385.
In summary then, at the end of 2011 / beginning of 2012, the MEST had made
significant gains:
385.1
It improved access to primary and junior secondary schooling in underserved areas particularly;
385.2
It had also made small, but noteworthy gains in gender parity at all levels of
schooling;
385.3
Completion and transition rates improved at all levels. At primary school
the proxy completion rate improved from 67 percent in 2007 to 76 percent in
2010/11 and the primary to junior-secondary transition rate increased from
59 percent to 77 percent in the same time period.
386.
Key challenges at the end of 2011 included insufficient schools to meet the growing
demand for secondary school, staff shortages, insufficient text books and materials,
ongoing curriculum challenges and a number of other factors linked to the overarching challenge of the poor quality of educational outcomes (MEST, 2014). In
addition, reports have been made of discrimination by schools, in contravention of
the protection of equal rights by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act against
teenage pregnant girls who are being prohibited from sitting for their exams.
387.
As can be seen from the following table, the quality of education, based on pass
rates, is low in Sierra Leone.
Table 4: NPSE and BECE pass rates by gender and Gender Parity Index,2005-2011
NPSE
Pass Rate (%)
Male
Female
2005
74.2
68.8
2006
75.2
2007
BECE
GPI
Pass Rate (%)
GPI
Male
Female
92.71
51.1
41.1
0.80
69.2
91.97
–
–
–
74.7
29.4
93.02
63.3
53.3
0.84
2008
76.4
70.8
02.63
50.6
44.5
0.88
2009
76.0
72.6
95.61
54.0
43.2
0.80
2010
75.9
72.5
95.54
54.9
43.2
0.79
2011
76.7
72.7
94.81
54.9
43.2
0.79
Source: MEST, 2012 for NPSE, WAEC/BECE results and authors' computations
388.
The MEST has engaged with the challenges and developed a new and revised
education sector strategic plan. The Education Sector Implementation Plan for the
Years 2014-2016 provides for a set of strengthened interventions to achieve the
sector’s priority goals, which include, inter alia:
Increasing
the pre-primary gross enrolment ratio from 6 percent in 2011 to 13,5
percent in 2016
The proportion of Grade 3s able to read and understand an age-appropriate text
and able to perform computations appropriate to their level to equal 50 percent
by 2016
8. The Right to Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities
99