FAQs

Is it mandatory for teachers to be registered and licensed?

  1.  TSC Act (2011) states:

    1. Without prejudice, …it shall be the function of the Commission to…Register and License all teachers;
    2. Maintain and upgrade annually a register of all licensed teachers and publish the register in the Gazette;
    3. Vet all teachers’ qualifications and determine their equivalence based on a qualifications framework;

Who is qualified to be registered as a teacher?

  • Graduates from a three or four year teacher training programme;
  • Graduates with the following qualifications from accredited institutions: BA Ed, BSc Ed. B. Ed, PGDE, HTC, TC.

How to register as a teacher?

Do I need to pay for my license?

Yes, here are the fees for the different licenses:

Licensing Fees

Licensing Fees (subject to review)

Initial
License/New Teacher                         Le 250.00

Proficient teacher                                Le 150.00

Highly accomplished teacher            Le 100.00

Distinguished teacher                         Le 50.00

How often will I renew my license?

Licenses will be renewed triennially

 What is the Teacher Licensing Examination?

The teacher licensing examination is a quality assurance mechanism to safeguard professionalism of teachers in the country

Categories of Teachers’ qualification for Licensing Examination

i. Teachers’ Certificate (TC)

ii. Higher Teachers’ Certificate Primary (HTC-P)

iii. Higher Teachers’ Certificate Secondary (HTC-S)

iv. Degrees in Education B.Sc. Ed., B.Ed., M.A. Ed, M.Sc. Ed, M.Ed., PhD in Education or Degree in other fields plus education qualification (e.g., PGDE)

Categories of Teaching levels of Teachers for Licensing Examination

1.       Preprimary and Primary

2.       Junior Secondary

3.       Technical and Vocational, and Senior Secondary levels

The following subjects would be examined:

i. English Language (Communication Skills – Literacy)

ii. Mathematics (Numeracy Skills)

iii. Information and Communication Technology, ICT (Compulsory 21st Century Skills)

iv. Teacher Education Curriculum (Pedagogical Skills)

v. Professional Standards (Pedagogical Skills)

The Licensing Examination Subjects and their Codes

Category of Teachers

English Language

Mathematics

ICT

Teacher Education Curriculum

Professional Standards

TC

TC-ENG

TC-MATH

TC-ICT

TC-EDU

TC-PST

HTCP

HTCP-ENG

HTCP-MATH

HTCP-ICT

HTCP-EDU

HTCP-PST

HTCS

HTCS-ENG

HTCS-MATH

HTCS-ICT

HTCS-EDU

HTCS-PST

Degree

DG-ENG

DG-MATH

DG-ICT

DG-EDU

DG-PST

Questions vary in scope and depth based on expected increased level of proficiency from TC through HTC to degree programmes.

 Distribution of Teacher Licensing Examination Questions

Subjects

English Language

Math

ICT

Teacher Education Curriculum

Professional Standards

Number of Questions

20

15

10

25

30

        

 

Classification and Interpretation of Scores

Grade

Score

Result

                       

A

75 and above

Distinction

 

B

65-74

Credit

 

C

50-64

Pass

 

D

0-49

Fail

 

Repeating of the Examination and Probation

      Candidates who fail the licensing
examination shall pay a resit fee and take the examination again at the
earliest opportunity.

       
If the candidate fails the
examination after two consecutive attempts, he or she shall be placed on
probation for a minimum of one calendar year.

       
To retake the examination, the
candidate must show evidence of having taken remedial programme(s) approved by
TSC, to address his or her deficiencies.

What happens to trained and qualified serving teachers?

The Teacher Licensing
Examination is the authorisation testifying that an individual meets the
required minimum academic and professional knowledge and skills. Serving
teachers would need to take the examination in order to be licensed and would
be placed on the career path thereafter that reflects the individual’s
professional experience, competencies and acquired credits from continuing
professional development programmes.

What happens to those on the pay role that have served for
many years that are not trained and qualified?

All persons teaching in
all levels of Basic Education are encouraged to go through the required
training in pedagogy and be licensed to teach. Penalties would apply once
teacher licensing is in force.

What benefit will teachers stand to gain after being
licensed?

      The recruitment of only teachers who hold the teaching
license.

      Use of the teacher license as part of the requirements for
progression along the teacher career path.

      Arrangement for Sierra Leonean teachers who have license to
practice in other African countries as TSC shall have a memorandum of
understanding with those countries for mutual recognition and acceptance of
teaching license.

Will teachers teaching foreign languages such as French
and Arabic be required to take the licensing examination?

According to the TSC Act
of (2011), all teachers must be licensed and registered. Also, all adverts for
teaching positions in Sierra Leone state that applicants must be fluent in
spoken and written English which is the official language. In this regard, such
teachers have no option but to take the TLE and demonstrate their required
competencies.

Are heads of schools expected to take the licensing
examination?

Yes, heads of schools will
only be licensed when they take the licensing examination and afterwards
present their portfolio in order for them to be place on the career path.

What is the relationship between the competency levels and
the designations of teachers?

The existing public
service designations for teachers (assistant teacher, senior teacher, etc) will
remain. The designations of new teacher, proficient teacher, etc. define
teachers’ professional standing with regard to their level of responsibility
and competence in the profession.

 

District Offices

Addresses

Kailahun District Office

Old Barracks Road, Education District Office,
Kailahun

Kenema District Office

District Council Compound, Bo Rod Mttru Jong vi
Court House

Kono District Office

DO Barracks, Kono

Tonkolili District Office

Back of the District Education Office, Magburaka

Port Lokp District Office

Kambia Road, Port Loko City

Koinadugu District Office

Adjacent the District Education Office, Kabala

Bombali District Office

Mena Hills, Makeni

Kambia District Office

Main Kambi-Mdina Highway(Back of the District
Education Office)

Karene District Office

Kamasuba Road, Kamakwei

Falaba District Office

Roman Catholic Mission Building, Serekolia Road,
Mongo Bendugu Town, Falaba

Bo District Office

Baiima Road, Bo, adjacent the District Education
Office

Bonthe District Office

Goba Town1, Mattru Jong

Moyamba District Office

Yoyema Road, Moyamba (Back of the Education
Office)

Pujehun District Office

Komala Section, Pujehun Town

Western Area Rural District Office

77 Liverpool Street Benguema Highway, Waterloo

Western Area Urban District Office

7 Priscilla Street, Freetown

 

Leadership

Chairperson: Mr. Lansana Keifala
SecretaryMr. Sorie I. Turay

Departments

Strategic Documents

Adverts

District Offices

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