International

SLTU statue and motto: “We Educate to Liberate”

Sierra Leone still suffers from the devastation of an 11-year civil war which ended in 2002. The war was particularly destructive, and Partnership Africa Canada points out that “the point of the war may not actually have been to win it, but to engage in profitable crime under the cover of warfare... Diamonds fueled Sierra Leone's conflict, destabilizing the country for the better part of three decades, stealing its patrimony and robbing an entire generation of children, putting the country dead last on the UNDP Human Development Index".   Sierra Leone is now on a steady but difficult path to recovery, and in spite of rich mineral and agricultural resources, there remain great inequities in the distribution of wealth: 70 – 80% of the population lives in extreme poverty (below $1 US / day). Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. There is little manufacturing and nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture.   Recently, great strides have been made in political stability, and the September 2007 elections, which observers deemed to be fair and open, resulted in an orderly change of government.   Educational Context Sierra Leone has historically valued education, and was once known as “the Athens of West Africa”. During the war, many schools were destroyed, and World Bank figures reveal that only 13% of schools survived intact; 35% were destroyed entirely and the remaining 52% require major repair. UNESCO reports that primary schools were the worst hit. In the northern and eastern districts, schools were abandoned and, by the end of the war, 80% of all primary schools across the country were completely destroyed or heavily damaged. Rebuilding will take decades to complete.   Many teachers in Sierra Leone lost everything. A large number fled the country and have since begun new lives as teachers elsewhere. Those that remain are living under difficult circumstances. “The average salary cost for all primary school teachers (which includes allowances) was 138,000 Leones per month (US $50) in late 2003” (UNESCO). Community teachers working at government-funded primary schools earn much less. These unqualified teachers earn from 3,000 to 15,000 Leones per month. They are essentially volunteers with few professional skills. The literacy rate in Sierra Leone is 35.1% (male: 46.9% female: 24.4% - 2004 est.)

Partner Objectives

• To promote the professional, social and economic interests of members and sensitize them to work for the development of education, the Sierra Leone society and the world at large;
• To decentralize the union activities down to the school level;
• To have up to 100% of trained and qualified teachers in the profession;
• To make the union self reliant;
• To improve the quality of education received by Sierra Leonean children;
• To achieve EFA targets and MDG goals;
• To contribute to good governance, accountability and transparency.

Hotel 5 -10, owned by SLTU, is so named in honour of World Teachers’ Day (5th of October)
SLTU Executive Council meets to discuss issues	Sierra Leonean students
Teachers at work during SLTU / CTF July In-service (Project Overseas)

CTF/Partner Activities

• Capacity Building - Newsletter
• Gender Equality and Empowerment- Women's Bursaries / Institutional Support
• Professional Development - Project Overseas
• Influence on National Education Plan- Peace Education

Newsletter
Along with DLF (Denmark), CTF provides funding to assist in the publication and distribution of 4 issues of their newsletter. The newsletter includes lesson plans and other professional information and assistance as well as providing information about professional and trade union development to members.

Women's Bursaries
These bursaries provide approximately 80 women per year with financial assistance to pursue studies in Education.

Institutional Support
CTF provides salary support and training for a Program Officer for gender equality and the empowerment of women in the union.

Project Overseas
During July and August, Canadian and Sierra Leonean co-tutors work together in providing a three-week professional development in-service to approximately 80 teachers.

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/eng/JUD-222121152-N6Y
www.international.gc.ca/international/index.aspx
www.voyage.gc.ca/index-eng.asp
www.ei-ie.org/barometer/en/index.php
www.ei-ie.org/developmentcooperation/en/index.php
www.undp.org