Following the completion of the baseline study to better understand the state of pre-primary education (PPE) in Karene District, significant progress has been made across the INCE programme:
- A validation workshop for the completed baseline study was held in collaboration with the Deputy Director of MBSSE and several civil society organisations (CSOs), ensuring shared ownership of the findings and next steps.
- The official launch of INCE in Karene District on 11 February 2026 marked a major milestone. All partners actively contributed to this event. The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) delivered a keynote address, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, the District Council, and other local authorities, including the police. Together, they acknowledged the achievements to date and formally pledged their support to the programme.
- One of our consortium partners, World Vision, facilitated training sessions for children’s clubs, mother clubs, and School Management Committees (SMCs), strengthening their roles in supporting and improving pre-primary education.
- In collaboration with consortium partners and CSOs, radio jingle messages were developed to raise awareness and increase parents’ willingness to enroll their children in PPE from the age of three. These messages also promote the importance of strong foundational skills for lifelong learning and advocate for sustained government ownership, policy review, and increased budget allocation to PPE. Joint radio discussion programmes have complemented these efforts.
- Community engagement meetings were organised, with strong participation from pre-primary school head teachers and community members.
- A door-to-door awareness campaign was launched to further emphasize the importance of enrolling children in pre-primary education at an early age.
We remain committed to improving the quality of pre-primary education in Karene District, Sierra Leone, and are pleased that additional funding has become available to support the next phase of implementation.