By: Elizabeth A. Kaine
Following the recent teachers’ exam, Madam Marian S. Abu, the Director of Teacher Management at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), noted that those who passed are required to apply for their PIN codes to address ongoing frustrations with late payments to teachers. She emphasized that while teachers will be deployed to various locations across the country, those who feel they cannot accept their assignments are permitted to withdraw. “If we give them a time frame and they do not reply, we will replace them,” she stated, underscoring the urgency of the newly launched Teacher Deployment Strategy, a key component of the TSC’s 2024/2025 recruitment process aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and equity of the nation’s teaching workforce.
The TSC first introduced “The National Policy for Sierra Leone: Comprehensive and Harmonized National Teacher Policies” (TSC 2020) in 2019, alongside a deployment strategy designed to streamline recruitment and management of teachers. In 2023, the Commission further advanced its initiatives by establishing the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS), which digitizes critical records related to teacher registration, licensing, recruitment, deployment, promotion, reassessment, development, and grievance management.
Madam Abu highlighted that the TMIS has been successfully piloted through teacher registrations, licensing examinations, and recruitment processes. Starting in 2024, the Commission will prioritize addressing critical vacancies to ensure equitable distribution of teachers across the country. The Deployment Strategy aims to tackle longstanding issues of equity, quality, and sustainability in the teaching profession.
In a recent statement, the TSC outlined key aspects of the deployment process for the upcoming academic year, emphasizing adherence to the national policy framework. Teacher allocations will vary by district, irrespective of district size or location. Teachers may be assigned to schools outside their original preferences, particularly if certain schools are over-subscribed.
Additionally, Mr. Lans Keifala, Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission, clarified that teachers can be deployed or redeployed to districts beyond their places of residence, as mandated by national policy and the TSC Act of 2011. Once placed, teachers are expected to remain in their positions for a minimum of three years before applying for redeployment or transfer.
To facilitate the deployment process, the Commission will engage actively with community structures and local leaders, fostering support for this initiative. This collaborative approach aims to ensure a smooth transition for teachers and to promote stability within schools.
As the TSC implements this comprehensive strategy, it reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the quality of education in Sierra Leone by addressing systemic challenges and optimizing the distribution of teaching resources. The Commission’s proactive measures are anticipated to strengthen the teaching profession and ultimately benefit students across the nation.
