By Josephine Sesay
A major new education initiative aimed at enhancing learning environments for Sierra Leonean youth was officially launched in Freetown under the banner, Improving Public educational service facilities for youth in Sierra Leone. Funded by the China-established Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this project marks a significant milestone in the growing partnership between China and Sierra Leone.
The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders from government, international agencies, and the education sector. Distinguished guests included Chinese Ambassador Wang Qing; Sierra Leone’s Presidential Advisor on Human Capital Development, Prof. Alpha Wurie; Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie; Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Hon. Conrad Sackey; UNDP Country Representative, Mr. Fredrick Ampiah; and Chinese Consular for Economic Affairs, Mr. Wang Qing. Educators and students from primary and secondary schools across multiple districts were also present.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Wang Qing emphasized the project’s vital role in improving access to quality education. The initiative will distribute approximately 15,000 sets of desks and chairs to schools across all 13 regions of Sierra Leone, providing much-needed educational infrastructure.
This project demonstrates the deepening cooperation between China and Sierra Leone, Ambassador Wang said, by investing in basic educational facilities, we are not only supporting the development of our youth but also reinforcing our shared commitment to sustainable development through South-South cooperation under China’s Global Development Initiative.
Government officials expressed heartfelt gratitude to China and UNDP for their ongoing support of Sierra Leone’s education sector. Prof. Alpha Wurie, alongside Ministers Dr. Ramatulai Wurie and Hon. Conrad Sackey, praised the initiative and highlighted the critical role that improved infrastructure plays in ensuring equitable access to education nationwide.
They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with China and called for continued collaboration to advance Sierra Leone’s national development goals.
With hundreds of schools especially those in underserved communities set to benefit, the project is expected to significantly ease infrastructure challenges and improve learning conditions for thousands of students.
As the partnership between China and Sierra Leone grows stronger, initiatives like this showcase the tangible impact of global cooperation in advancing key development priorities, particularly in education and youth empowerment.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,1st August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
