When I think about Lɛ Wi Lan, I think about the people who have spent years working in Sierra Leone’s education system and the experience they have built along the way.
Built by Sierra Leoneans
Lɛ Wi Lan was established by 17 educationists, most of whom are Sierra Leonean with a shared commitment to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone to strengthen education in the country. Many of us have spent years working with ministries, schools, teachers, school leaders, districts, and other partners and we wanted that experience to continue to be useful to Sierra Leone.
The Leh Wi Lan legacy
This is also where the experience of Leh Wi Lan is important. For almost a decade, the programme worked with the Government of Sierra Leone to support improvements in secondary education. Lɛ Wi Lan is building on the knowledge, relationships and experience that came from that work and taking them forward through a Sierra Leonean organisation.
Our purpose is broader than any one programme.
Across the whole sector
Our purpose is broader than any one programme. We want to contribute to education across the sector, from foundational learning and secondary education to teacher education and technical and vocational education. Our current work is centred on Leaders in Teaching, which focuses on school leadership, teaching and the systems that support schools. It is an important part of what we are doing but it is not the full extent of our mandate.
Working with government
Our relationship with government is central to how we work. We want to support the people and institutions responsible for education and contribute to the reforms already taking place. This means listening, learning from what is happening on the ground and using the experience we have built to help strengthen the system.
There is a lot we have learnt through Leh Wi Lan and we still have much to learn. As Lɛ Wi Lan develops, we want to keep building on that experience while responding to the needs of the education system as they change.
Improving learning for young people
Ultimately, our work is about improving learning for young people in Sierra Leone. We want to help create the conditions for learners, including those who are most vulnerable, to develop the knowledge and capabilities they need to participate fully in the development of our country.
Gratitude, and the work ahead
I am grateful to our Founding members and Board chaired by Professor Yatta Kanu, our government partners, teachers, school leaders and others who have contributed to this journey. I am proud that Lɛ Wi Lan is being built by people who understand Sierra Leone’s education system and care about its future.
There is much work ahead and we look forward to doing it together.