Languages in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has no single national language-school or language-certificate system. English is used for teaching in government and government-assisted schools, as well as in official, legal and business settings. Local or community languages, including Krio, Mende, Themne or Kathemne, Hulimba and Fula, support early learning, literacy and communication in communities. Schools may use a local language during the early school years, but availability depends on the school, region and available teachers. French is included in the curriculum from Class 1 to Class 6 and from Form 1 to Form 3. The senior-secondary curriculum also lists French for Tourism, French for Business and Marketing, Everyday Basic French and Arabic Language. The curriculum includes Sierra Leone Languages such as Mende, Kathemne, Hulimba and Krio, but schools do not offer every language nationwide. French, Arabic and Fula may therefore be available as curriculum options without creating a uniform national course or examination pathway. Children generally learn languages through the formal school system covered by the Free Quality School Education programme, which includes government and government-assisted schools from pre-primary through senior secondary school. The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education publishes English, French and local-language learning materials. English is central to the National Primary School Examination, the Basic Education Certificate Examination and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. In the WASSCE English examination, candidates complete a multiple-choice paper and an essay paper; the essay paper allows 50 minutes for one essay of about 450 words. English results are also commonly relevant to higher-education entry, although each institution sets its current admission rules. Adult and non-formal learning provides other pathways. The Directorate of Non-Formal and Adult Education supports Adult Literacy, Non-Formal Education, Community Learning Centres and continuing education. Community Learning Centres may teach functional reading, writing and numeracy and sometimes livelihood skills. Classes commonly take place in the afternoon or evening, often no more than three days per week, but schedules, language choice, duration and contributions vary by centre and region. Ministry information recorded 30 Adult Literacy Centres in 13 districts and 59 Community Learning Centres in 53 chiefdoms in 2019; these figures do not establish current nationwide availability. Accelerated Education programmes may also use Community Learning Centres, Accelerated Learning Centres and non-state programmes. Private and partner-supported courses can provide additional language practice, but no reliable evidence establishes a uniform nationwide private-course structure or common price. An IELTS computer-delivered test centre operates in Freetown through the British Council. IELTS is an external English test used for purposes such as study, work and United Kingdom visa applications. Test dates and fees depend on the booking, and the listening, reading and writing components take place on one day while speaking may take place separately. IELTS does not function as a national certificate for Krio, Mende, Themne or Hulimba. Digital learning is available through the Sierra Leone Learning Passport, developed by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, UNICEF and partners. It provides curriculum-aligned material from early childhood education through examination preparation, including NPSE, BECE and WASSCE resources and digitised past papers. Online and offline use, Education Radio FM 95.3 and other media can extend access, but electricity, internet service, devices, data costs and digital skills limit use, especially in rural or marginalised communities. Some zero-rating measures have been documented as ongoing or intended access support rather than as a permanent guarantee. Government and government-assisted school tuition is free under the Free Quality School Education policy, and public examination fees for NPSE, BECE, WASSCE and NVQ are covered in the stated school sector. This does not make private courses or IELTS free. Adult literacy centres and community programmes do not have one nationally standardised fee or timetable. English has the widest practical relevance for education, examinations, work, authorities and legal matters. Krio and other local languages remain highly useful for community communication, early understanding and adult literacy, while French has a formal but more uneven school-based role.