President Bio Emphasizes Human Capital Development for Sierra Leone’s Future

In his 2025 State Opening of Parliament address, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio underscored his government's unwavering commitment to Human Capital Development, to improve the lives of his people. 

Human capital development continues to be part of the second pillar of his "Big Five Game Changers," a strategy designed to propel Sierra Leone toward enhanced productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth through robust investments in education, healthcare, and gender equality.

Reviewing 2024, the President detailed significant achievements across these crucial sectors:

• Education:

  • The Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program demonstrated measurable success with increased enrolment, retention, and completion rates nationwide.

    
    

  • Over 1,500 classrooms were constructed, e-learning access expanded, and internet connectivity improved, with solar power reaching underserved schools

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  • Inclusive education received special attention, providing targeted support (sanitary pads, school feeding, first aid) to learners with disabilities, girls, and returning child mothers.

    
    

  • More than 20,000 teachers have been trained since 2018, including 14,500 in early-grade literacy and numeracy, with 200 Quality Assurance Officers deployed.

  
  

  • The government covers exam fees (NPSE, BECE, WASSCE) and tuition subsidies for public and government-assisted schools.

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  • Independent assessments indicate Sierra Leonean students now match the performance of peers in Africa’s top-performing education systems.

    
    

  • Significant investment in technical and vocational education, including the WokDonCam Project and specialised training hubs with UNESCO, UNIDO, and Japan.

    
    

  • Modernization of higher education through digital expansion, connecting nine universities across 23 campuses to affordable internet, benefiting over 10,000 students.

    
    

  • Infrastructure upgrades at Milton Margai and Bunumbu campuses, and development of the Kono University of Science and Technology.

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• Healthcare:

  • Increased domestic health spending in 2024 and operationalization of the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance Scheme (SLeSHI).

    
    

  • Establishment of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) for coordinated emergency response.

    
    

  • Health workforce capacity expanded, with recruitment up 15% and medical school enrolment doubled.

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  • Creation of a Postgraduate College of Health Specialties to train doctors locally.

    
    

  • Infrastructure projects include the 166-bed Julius Maada Bio Paediatric Centre of Excellence and upgrades to regional hospitals.

    
    

  • Emergency obstetric care centres contributed to a 70% reduction in maternal and newborn deaths.

    
    

  • Modernization of healthcare delivery through digital health systems and expanded immunization programs.

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• Gender Equality & Social Protection:

  • Implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022) with Gender Units in MDAs and training in gender budgeting.

    
    

  • New legislation reinforced legal protections against child marriage.

    
    

  • Social protection reforms include the Social Work Regulatory Act (2025) and the Social Protection Act (2024).

    
    

  • Cash transfers are reaching elderly citizens, rehabilitation centres address drug abuse, and disability inclusion is mainstreamed.

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The President's address paints a picture of a holistic approach to national development, positioning Sierra Leone as a potential West African leader in human capital development, crucial for long-term prosperity.

The speech is expected to be a key point of discussion and analysis among members of parliament in the coming days.