BY AUGUSTINE SANKOH
232NEWS, FREETOWN —
Strategic Communications Analyst MBSSE
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) through the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) will be submitting the list of 680 teachers, with 203 of which are Heads of Schools from different public schools for retirement in 2023.
According to the Secretary of TSC Mr. Sorie I. Turay, their retirements take effect on the 31st August 2023 and it is anticipated that they would be paid their gratuities together with their last salaries on the 31st August 2023.
He said the TSC was granted approval by Cabinet for Teachers to retire once a year on the 31st August of every year to avoid disruption to the School Year.
“The retirement letters of these teachers were dispatched to their schools early in the year and they are expected to complete the retirement forms and submit them to the TSC Offices in their respective districts. The forms will then be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for processing. Copies of the retirement letters can be collected from the TSC Offices in the event that they have not received copies,’ he said.
He said this is in line with the mandatory retirement age in the teaching service which is 60 years; he however stated that there is concession for teachers that are teaching Science, Technology, Agriculture, Engineering and Mathematics (STAEM) subjects to extend their retirement age to 65 years if they are willing.
Mr Turay said TSC was faced with the challenge of some teachers not wanting to retire at age 60, and some of them were purporting to be STEAM teachers, noting that that has been sorted out already.
He said the government is presently processing 2,800 teachers that will soon be included in the government payroll.
Teachers make up 40% of the entire government payroll and since 2018, over 5,424 teachers have been placed on their right pay grade. Over 300 school heads have been regularized. In 2021 alone we have recruited 1,000 teachers. There are about 36,509 Teachers on the government payroll.
In the build up to the end of April 2020, there were concerns that the government might not be able to fulfil its commitment due to the emergence of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that forced many nations to reduce budgetary support on education. But the government kept the promise and paid the 30% increase for up to 34,350 teachers across the country. The increment at the time means that the payroll for teachers increased by Le 13.45 billion, from Le 42.95 billion in March 2020 to Le 56.40 billion in April 2020.
Recently, there is another 45% increase in the salary of teachers to be implemented in three years.
Over 500 Principals and Vice Principals have been appointed between August 2020 and November 2021. All were previously either Acting positions or vacant. Government has invested in school management and leadership.
Presidential National Best Teacher Awards – In two years of the event, 112 teachers were honoured by the President of Sierra Leone for their service and dedication as teachers. Two of the national winners were nominated to the African Union Best Teacher Prize and several have benefited from advanced training opportunities. The third edition of this annual event takes place on the 5th October, 2023.
