Sierra Leone Education
Second grade class in Koidu
Education in Sierra Leone is legally required for all children for six years at primary level (Class P1-P6) and three years in junior secondary education, but a shortage of schools and teachers has made implementation impossible.
The Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools and in 2001 67 percent of all school-age children were out of school.
The situation has improved considerably since then with primary school enrollment doubling between 2001 and 2005 and the reconstruction of many schools since the end of the war. Students at primary schools are usually 6 to 12 years old, and in secondary schools 13 to 18. Primary education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools.
The country has three universities, the University of Sierra Leone, founded as Fourah Bay College in 1827 (the oldest university in West Africa), and Njala University, primarily located in Bo District, which was established as the Njala Agricultural Experimental Station in 1910 and became a university in 2005. Teacher training colleges and religious seminaries are found in many parts of the country.
The Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools and in 2001 67 percent of all school-age children were out of school.
The situation has improved considerably since then with primary school enrollment doubling between 2001 and 2005 and the reconstruction of many schools since the end of the war. Students at primary schools are usually 6 to 12 years old, and in secondary schools 13 to 18. Primary education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools.
The country has three universities, the University of Sierra Leone, founded as Fourah Bay College in 1827 (the oldest university in West Africa), and Njala University, primarily located in Bo District, which was established as the Njala Agricultural Experimental Station in 1910 and became a university in 2005. Teacher training colleges and religious seminaries are found in many parts of the country.
Sierra Leone Culture
Music
Sierra Leone's music is a mixture of native and French influences. Palm wine is representative, and is played by an acoustic guitar with percussion in countries throughout coastal East Africa. Palm wine, the drink, is the source of the name of the music and the clubs where it was both drunk and played.
Palm-wine Main article: Palm-wine music Sierra Leonean palm wine music is known as maringa, and it was first popularized by Ebenezer Calender & His Maringar Band, who used styles that came from freed slaves from the Caribbean, especially Trinidadian calypso.
Sport
Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. The national football team, popularly known as the Leone Stars, represents the country in international competitions. It has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but participated in the 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations. The country's national television network, The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) broadcasts the live match, along with several radio stations throughout the country. Other popular sports include Cricket and Basketball.
Sierra Leone's music is a mixture of native and French influences. Palm wine is representative, and is played by an acoustic guitar with percussion in countries throughout coastal East Africa. Palm wine, the drink, is the source of the name of the music and the clubs where it was both drunk and played.
Palm-wine Main article: Palm-wine music Sierra Leonean palm wine music is known as maringa, and it was first popularized by Ebenezer Calender & His Maringar Band, who used styles that came from freed slaves from the Caribbean, especially Trinidadian calypso.
Sport
Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. The national football team, popularly known as the Leone Stars, represents the country in international competitions. It has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but participated in the 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations. The country's national television network, The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) broadcasts the live match, along with several radio stations throughout the country. Other popular sports include Cricket and Basketball.
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