Freetown, 28th April, 2026 — Sierra Leone has unveiled a nationwide initiative to expand early childhood education, signalling a bold investment in human capital development and long‑term economic growth. President Dr. Julius Maada Bio launched the Salone Pekin fo Play en Lan Outcome Fund Programme at Country Lodge, committing to reach more than 29,000 children aged 3 to 5 across 87 community‑based centres over the next three years.
The programme, valued at $15.3 million, is led by the Education Outcomes Fund in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. It is supported by the LEGO Foundation, the Embassy of Denmark, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, reflecting strong international confidence in Sierra Leone’s education agenda.
President Bio underscored the fiscal commitment behind the initiative, noting that his government has consistently allocated over 20% of the national budget to education. Since the launch of the Free Quality Education programme, more than one million additional children have enrolled in school nationwide. He disclosed that approximately 170,000 children are already enrolled in early childhood care and education programmes, but emphasized that the new initiative will significantly expand access and quality.
“This is about giving every child a strong start,” the President said, stressing that early learning experiences shape not only individual futures but the nation’s collective trajectory. He called on the private sector to invest in the programme, pointing out that with additional support Sierra Leone could establish 28 more centres and reach 7,000 additional children.
The initiative is expected to generate wide socio‑economic benefits, including job creation for teachers and caregivers, skills development, and improved learning outcomes that strengthen Sierra Leone’s workforce in the long term. President Bio reaffirmed that children remain central to the country’s future, pledging his government’s unwavering commitment to their growth and development.
