Education

Gbassay, 17, was preparing for his West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when the COVID-19 pandemic struck Sierra Leone. In response, the government enforced school closures as a containment measure, disrupting education and other sectors. This posed a serious threat to Gbassay’s chances of attending university.

“I was so scared that the school closure would affect my education, especially my chances of going to university next year after passing my exams,” Gbassay recalls. “With schools closed, we only had previous notes from our teachers—nothing new to learn. Thinking about the unfinished syllabus for my exams made me anxious for my future and that of my classmates.”

To mitigate the immediate impact of school closures, the government and its partners devised strategies to support students preparing for public examinations. Drawing from lessons learned during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, the government reintroduced a radio teaching program, broadcasting lessons via FM radio across various media houses. However, Gbassay faced another challenge—he did not own a radio to access these lessons.

“The radio teaching program is a great initiative, but without a radio, it is meaningless. I couldn’t afford one,” he explains.

With the economic strain caused by the pandemic, many families prioritized essential needs like food over purchasing radios. Gbassay’s parents, both struggling farmers, focused on providing sustenance for their household.

Solar Radios Fuel Hope and Learning

Recognizing these challenges, ChildFund identified education as a priority sector in its global COVID-19 response, which was also implemented in Sierra Leone. To support children’s learning in remote communities, ChildFund donated 430 multi-purpose solar radio sets through its local partners—Daindemben Federation, Munafa M’Patie Federation, and Domakeh Federation. The radios were procured with funds from ChildFund Korea through the Integrated COVID-19 Emergency Assistance to Support Most Vulnerable Families project in Sierra Leone.

Gbassay was among the 430 students who received these solar radios. “In just two days of listening to the lessons, I have been able to catch up on areas I had missed. Now, when my friends visit, we listen together and discuss the lessons,” he says.

To further bridge learning gaps, ChildFund collaborated with the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), which provided lessons on SSD cards. The radio given to Gbassay includes an SSD slot, allowing the recorded lessons to play automatically.

“Education is crucial for national development. COVID-19 should not halt learning. The benefits of education last a lifetime,” says Gloria Kamara, Manager of Teacher Training and Development at TSC. “We have developed these lessons to help children catch up on lost classroom time. This is a great opportunity for students, and we are pleased to collaborate with organizations like ChildFund.” Gloria personally monitored the radio distribution and encouraged beneficiaries to use them effectively.

Additionally, the solar-powered radio eliminates the need for costly batteries. With a built-in solar panel, a full charge under sunlight provides up to 8 hours of use. ChildFund considered the economic hardships faced by rural parents and sought to ease their burden.

Gbassay’s community lacks electricity, but his solar-powered radio allows him to study at night. Equipped with a flashlight and a solar-powered bulb that lasts up to four hours when fully charged, the radio enhances his study experience.

On July 1, 2020, the Government of Sierra Leone reopened schools for students preparing for public examinations while maintaining health precautions. With only a month until his exams, Gbassay is eager to return to school.

“The reopening of schools for pupils like us taking public examinations, and the radio teaching program going side-by-side gives me hope that I will finish my education,’’ Gbassay concludes.