By: Josephine Nyeweah, Kenema
The Sierra Leone Teacher’s Union (SLTU), in collaboration with the Canadian Teacher’s Federation (CTF), has schooled 150 primary school teachers from Kenema, Kono and Kailahun districts in the Eastern Region.
The training happened at the Sierra Leone Teachers Union regional office, Wahman Abu Road, in Kenema, with the aim of empowering the classroom teachers to deliver in the interest of the nation.
Addressing the press at the training centre, the Deputy Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union Alieu Deen-Conteh disclosed that the
SLTU has been in partnership with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) since the 1970s and has been jointly funding many professional development in-service training programmes for teachers in Sierra Leone.
L to R: Kimberly Ann Naylor (L) known as Kumba and Arla Suzanne Connell (R) known as Adama from CTF Team Leader
Citing the training of untrained & unqualified teachers, the training of principals & head teachers in school administration many years back,
Since 2013, SLTU has done some training of trainers for a set of highly qualified and experienced teachers of the primary school who are based in all their respective regions as resource persons called Professional Development Facilitators.
Training in progress at SLTU Regional office in Kenema
These trained PDFs, alongside expert teachers from Canada, are now delivering training for primary school teachers in July of every school year in the different regions, rotationally.
Explaining further, he said training has been done for the western area, and now it is for the Eastern Region, and next year, it will be the turn for the Southern Region.
Alieu Deen-Conteh SLTU Deputy Secretary General addressing the press in Kenema
We train 150 to 200 teachers and head teachers by providing them with knowledge, skills, and attitudes/values for two weeks every July school holiday in 4 subject areas: Literacy (Language Arts), Numeracy (Mathematics), Teachers’ Action for Girls (TAG), Peace and Civic Education.
The concept of instructional leadership (IL) is also part of the training for mainly the head teachers.
This year, 2026, the Canadians’ Teacher’s Federation team includes Aria Suzanne Connell, team leader known as Adama in Sierra Leone, and Kimberly Ann Naylor, known as Kumba.
