SIERRA LEONE TEACHING SERVICE COMMISSION PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS For Teachers and School Leaders in Sierra Leone Government of Sierra Leone PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS IN SIERRA LEONE © 2017 Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission ISBN: 978-978-962-339-6 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. FOREWORD The critical role of education in building a strong national workforce is acknowledged in major development agendas of the government of Sierra Leone—in both regular and emergency programme contexts—where provision has consistently been made to improve the quality of teachers and instructional processes. Conscious of the centrality of teachers to the instructional process and the impact of quality teachers on student learning, the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone established the Teaching Service Commission with responsibility to address all matters pertaining to teacher management and professional development. The Commission’s legal framework is contained in the TSC Act of 2011. There are high expectations of the Teaching Service Commission to reform the teaching profession and ensure equitable deployment of qualified teachers for the benefit of educationally underserved and disadvantaged communities. Improving primary school access is a recurrent theme in the government’s agenda, articulated across major programmes and initiatives, including the Agenda for Prosperity, the President’s Recovery Priorities, and, more recently, the Education Sector Plan, 2018–2020. The Commission is proud to produce its maiden publication, Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders. This initiative is designed to restore hope and dignity to the teaching profession, allowing teachers an appreciation of the breadth of knowledge, skills and values that go to make a good teacher and what teachers must achieve to develop and grow as sound professionals in their career, with increasing pedagogical and social responsibilities reminiscent of an era in which teachers stood tall and proudly exclaimed, `Call me Teacher’. Through this initiative, implementation of the Standards will necessarily promote linkages with the key functional areas of curriculum and quality assurance in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, as well as with pre-service institutions, thereby maintaining the integrity of the system while moving forward with innovative reforms in teacher development. The Commission remains indebted to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), comprised of the World Bank, the EU, UNICEF and DfID, in particular the fund manager, the World Bank, who have provided the technical and operational support required to add value to the planning and implementation of the Commission’s programme. Our particular appreciation goes to the European Union through whose intervention the professional standards will not only guide teacher assessment but also provide the basis for promoting teachers’ career development. Staneala M. Beckley, PhD Chair, Teaching Service Commission 3 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is the culmination of several weeks of communication, background research, intensive planning, and consultations at national and regional levels. It is the product of a highly inclusive process in which the voices of a wide range of participants were heard and documented. The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) is indebted to all those whose diverse contributions led to the production of the report. We would like to acknowledge the funding and technical support of the European Union in the development the Professional Standards initiative. EU technical support to the TSC was provided by Dr. James Wile, who conceptualized the approach and provided oversight throughout the process. Professor Steve Nwokeocha, CEO of the African Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), provided invaluable and unmatched global and African regional experience with bursts of energy that generated the right level of reflection and critical thinking required to move the process along and produce the results captured in this report. The TSC also recognizes the important role and contribution of the national consultant, Professor Joe Pemagbi, a seasoned educationist and former Sierra Leone representative to the United Nations, whose experience, insights, and diplomacy were brought to bear on the consultations and preparations for the national launch of the report. The TSC would like to thank the national and district resource teams, including TSC Commissioners, for their active participation in the series of consultations. Their sharing of valuable experience—as teachers, head teachers and principals, retired educationists, local and international NGOs and agencies—offered sound contributions which were translated into content for the report. The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Education, through the Chair, the Honourable Mr. Leonard Fofanah (also Majority Leader), made it possible for the TSC and the Consultants to present the Standards initiative to the Oversight Committee in a session in Parliament. The TSC acknowledges and appreciates the strategic importance of engagement with the Oversight Committee. Invaluable policy support was provided by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in launching the process and hosting a subsequent session for the benefit of the Inclusive Management Team, comprised of all heads of departments and units in the Ministry. The Sierra Leone Teachers Union was an active partner in both national and district consultations and their critical role in addressing issues of quality teaching is gratefully acknowledged. Sorie Ibrahim Turay Secretary, Teaching Service Commission 5 PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION 6 Parliamentary Oversight Committee for Education The Education Committee of the Parliament participated in the Professional Standards’ development. Pictured in the centre is the Honourable Leonard Fofanah, Chair of the Education Committee and Majority Leader in the Parliament, flanked by some of his members, with TSC Chair and Professional Standards experts during the Professional Standards development process. Education Committee of Parliament at the end of its session on Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders 7 MINISTERIAL TEAM 8 Ministerial Team The Ministerial team that participated in the Professional Standards’ development, led by the Deputy Minister II of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. James Kamara, with TSC Chair, Commissioners and experts of the Professional Standards. 9 NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS GROUP National stakeholders that superintended the development of the Professional Standards in Sierra Leone. 10 National Stakeholders Group 1. James M. Kamara, Deputy 8. Edison Sharkah, Inspector of 17. Sorie I. Turay, Secretary, 27. Alpha D. Bangura, Deputy Minister 2, Ministry of Education Schools, Ministry of Education, Sierra Leone Teaching Service Director’s Representative, Science & Technology Science & Technology, Bo Commission Ministry of Education Science & Technology –Tonkolili 2. Dr. Alhaji M. Kamara, Chief 9. Mohamed B. Lamin, 18. Bernadette Cole, Commissioner, Education Officer, Ministry of Commissioner, Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Teaching Service 28. Beatrice Williams, Principal, The Education, Science & Technology Teaching Service Commission Commission Beacon High School 3. Dr. Staneala M Beckley, 10. Elfrida Scott, Commissioner, 19. F.B.Varaha-Adeyemo, 29. Hector Randall, Clergy, Peninsular Chairperson, Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commissioner, Sierra Leone Ministries Network Teaching Service Commission Commission Teaching Service Commission 30. Nabie M. Kamara, Director, 4. Dr. John Virtue, Team Leader, 11. Mariatu Isha Mansaray, Principal, 20. Louise Chaytor, General Ministry of Education, Science & European Union Programme, Conference of Principals of Overseer, Bright Light York Technology Ministry of Education Science & Secondary Schools Enterprises Technology/EU 31. Martha Florence Moigula, 12. Albert C. French, Director, 21. Josephus Sawyer, Manager, Principal, Conference of 5. Dr. James Wile, Technical Registration & Licensing, Tertiary Education Commission Principals of Secondary Schools Assistant, European Union Sierra Leone Teaching Service Programme, Ministry of Commission 22. Aiah Mbayo, Education Specialist, Education Science & Technology/ UNICEF EU 13. Nanthini Kumararajian, Technical Assistant, Leh wi Learn 23. Umaru Fofanah, Project 6. Profesor Steve Nwokeocha, Coordinator, British Council International Expert; Executive 14. Alieu Swarray Deen, Chairperson, Director, Africa Federation of National Council for Technical, 24. Esme James, Educationist, Teaching Regulatory Authorities Vocational and Other Academic Gospel Truth (AFTRA), South Africa. Awards 25. Joseph P.S. Fayia, Principal, 7. Professor Joe Pemagbi, National 15. Ophelia M. Morrison, Principal, Conference of Principals of Facilitator of the Standards’ Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools development;