By Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
August 5, 2025: The Ministry of Information and Civic Education reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance and citizen engagement during its weekly press conference held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Senior government officials provided updates on key national initiatives, education outcomes, teacher recruitment, and arms control efforts.
2026 National Census Communications Campaign
Deputy Minister Bockarie Abdel-Aziz Bawoh announced a strategic partnership with Statistics Sierra Leone to launch a joint communications campaign for the upcoming 2026 National Census. A two-day workshop held on July 30–31 focused on crafting inclusive and impactful messaging. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the census will be fully digital and designed to ensure broad stakeholder participation.
2025 NPSE Results Show Growth and Improvement
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, reported the release of the 2025 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results. A total of 171,112 pupils sat the exam—an increase of over 6,000 candidates from 2024. Girls represented 52% of the candidates, while boys made up 48%.
Key performance highlights include: 5,735 absentees, up from 4,527 in 2024; Highest T-score: 346 (2025), compared to 344 (2024) and 339 (2023); 128,766 pupils scored above the benchmark of 230l and 4,483 candidates scored above 300,
Government and government-assisted schools outperformed private institutions. Minister Sackey urged parents to follow the official price list for school supplies to avoid exploitation.
Council of Principals Pledges Transparency
Alimatu A. Massaquoi, Public Relations Officer of the Council of Principals of Secondary Schools, assured the public that schools will display the official price list once received. He called on the Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of school subsidies and reiterated the Council’s support for the Free Quality Education programme.
Teacher Recruitment and Welfare Boosted
Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), Lans Keifala, unveiled the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS)—a digital platform enabling teachers to submit applications remotely. In 2025, 3,300 teachers will be recruited, with 2,000 funded by the government, continuing a consistent annual recruitment trend.
A new teacher quota system based on pupil-teacher ratios has been introduced to ensure equitable distribution of educators across the country.
In terms of welfare: Teachers with Master’s degrees will now receive Vice Principal-level pay. The TSC is working with the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU) to offer soft loans at 10% interest to teachers. Discussions are underway to reintroduce the remote area allowance to incentivize rural teaching
Arms Control and National Security Updates
Major General (Rtd) Christian Fahim Marah, Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition, announced the Commission’s transition from the National Commission on Small Arms to align with international treaties, including the Arms Trade Treaty and ECOWAS Convention.
In 2025 alone, 3,900 unserviceable weapons were destroyed, bringing the total to over 8,500. A weapon marking system has been implemented nationwide, with the Western Area pending completion. Over 1,000 licenses have been issued to private individuals, enhancing traceability and accountability.