As in most developing countries, poverty and illiteracy are endemic in Sierra Leone. Combined with inadequate basic public health services, these two factors directly impact the overall health of the population. According to data published by WHO in 2018, https://www.afro.who.int/countries/sierra-leone. the average life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 53.1 years, which gives Sierra Leone a World Life Expectancy ranking of 181. Poverty, illiteracy, and health services also directly relate to education and a recent report published by UNICEF (13 March 2019) https://blogs.unicef.org/evidence-for-action/much-children-learn-new-evidence-sierra-leone/ revealed that only 12% of children in grades 2 to 3 have basic reading and math skills expected for that level of education, a number that is even lower in provinces with higher poverty rates.

After nine years of schooling, less than 10% of pupils nationwide pass English and mathematics courses. While primary (elementary) school enrollment numbers have improved, completion rates, especially for girls, remain abysmal. Only one in ten girls who start primary school graduate from secondary (high) school. These staggering realities clearly underscore the great need to invest in quality basic education in Sierra Leone, especially early in children’s education, when building fundamental skills is critical.