By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 23rd December 2015- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended that its report should be incorporated into education programmes in all schools from primary to Tertiary levels. “The Commission recommends that the contents of its report be incorporated into the education programmes in all schools, from primary to tertiary level.
The Children’s version of the Report can be used as a tool of education at the primary school level” Volume 2, Chapter 3, p.203, Section 545.
However, children born after the war have little or no understanding of the reasons for the 11-year civil war, the peace process and the TRC’s work. If one does not know or understand the atrocities committed in the war, how can they value peace?
This generation did not witness firsthand the realities or aftermath of the war in Sierra Leone. Most heard stories from elders, but do not fully understand the history of war and the reason for peace in Sierra Leone.
22-year-old Fatima Sacco,h who is now a final year student at the University of Sierra Leone, says that she learnt little about the civil war in school during history classes, but it was not taught extensively. “I briefly learned about the civil war in history classes, but topics like the Truth and Reconciliation commission and Transitional Justice were not explained,” she said. She believes that many young people like her have little or no understanding. “Many young people know the war happened but lack deeper understanding of the causes, consequences and the peace process. It will be hard for them to fully appreciate the value of peace if they are not knowledgeable about these things,” she said.
19-year-old Mohamed Bangura says he was not taught about the TRC in school and only learnt about it through the internet. “I was not taught about these topics in school. Our curriculum focused more on general history and not specifically on the Civil War or on transitional justice. I learnt about it through social media, documentaries and sometimes community discussions. School has not been a primary source for me,” he said.
Like Fatima Saccoh, Mohamed also believes that many young people lack understanding of the subject matter. “Many of my peers do not know much about the war or the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There is a gap in understanding our history,” he noted.
Idrissa Bangura, 21, a final year student who was also born after the war, says that in school, he was not taught about transitional justice, especially the work of the TRC and the Special Court. “I was taught briefly about the Civil War. The work of the TRC, Special Court, and peace-building frameworks were not explained. Many pupils will finish school without understanding what transitional justice truly means and how it shaped the country,” he said. He believes that learning about these subject matters will create a sense of responsibility in young people. “Being knowledgeable about these topics would make peace feel more personal and fragile. When people understand why societies collapse and how reconciliation is negotiated, not just declared, they become more cautious about hate speech, political manipulation, tribalism and violence. Learning about transitional justice would train the minds of citizens who see peace as an everyday responsibility, not only a slogan during elections,” he said.
Augustine Bamie Anthony, communication specialist at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, says that Transitional Justice in schools is not the trajectory of the Ministry at the moment. “That is not the trajectory of the Ministry at the moment, and we are not granting interviews on that”, he said.
Mohamed Bangura believes that learning about transitional justice issues would contribute to national development. “It would be really valuable to learn about these topics. It would help us become responsible citizens and contribute to national development,” he noted.
Idrissa Bangura believes that these issues are not mere concepts; they can be used as an educational tool that will shape behaviour. “These are not just academic subjects; they affect how we interact as citizens, voters, and future leaders. Human rights education provides dignity, justice teaches accountability, and civic responsibility builds patriotism,” he said.
Fatima Saccoh says that learning about this subject matter will help young people become tolerant and understand the importance of forgiveness “learning about transitional justice would strengthen my awareness of how fragile peace is and the importance of justice, forgiveness, and unity. It would also help young people become more tolerant, responsible, and active citizens,” said Fatima.
‘This story is brought to you with support from the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) through the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), under the project ‘Engaging Media and Communities to Change the Narrative on Transitional Justice Issues in Sierra Leone.’
