Freetown, September 7, 2025 — The Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has reinstated 1,802 teachers to the government payroll following a nationwide verification exercise that initially saw 4,662 educators suspended in July for failing to appear in classroom audits or during extended registration periods.
The reinstatement marks the first phase of a broader effort to validate and restore legitimate teachers who were mistakenly removed from the payroll. According to the Commission, the verified teachers received their August salaries along with back pay for July, after their names were forwarded to the Ministry of Finance on August 15.
The verification exercise, which began in March 2025 and was extended through May and June, aimed to capture real-time data on teachers actively serving in classrooms across the country. Those who failed to appear were flagged for suspension pending further investigation.
However, the Commission has since received appeals from teachers who claim to have been registered and verified but were still affected by the suspension. In response, the TSC has committed to a phased reinstatement process running through September 2025, working closely with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that only legitimate educators are returned to the payroll.
The second phase of reinstatement is now underway, with a submission deadline set between Monday, September 8 and Friday, September 12. Teachers not found on the registration list must be vouched for by their head-of-school, who will be required to sign an official undertaking confirming the teacher’s active service.
The Commission has urged all affected teachers to submit their details in coordination with their school heads during the designated period. Heads of schools will also be contacted directly for verification of previously submitted cases.
This move comes amid growing pressure to stabilize the education workforce and ensure that qualified teachers are not unfairly penalized due to administrative lapses. The TSC says its goal is to uphold accountability while protecting the integrity of the teaching profession.
More updates are expected as the second phase progresses.
