In November 2024, a pilot programme introducing structured career counselling in senior secondary schools was launched in Sierra Leone to support young people in finding meaningful and realistic career paths. The initiative is a collaboration between the local organisation Skool Grind, and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE). The pilot aims to drive systemic change by helping students navigate the challenging transition from school to adulthood in a context marked by limited opportunities and a highly constrained job market.
As part of the pilot, trained career counsellors have been placed in three senior secondary schools in Freetown - Prince of Wales School, Ahmadiyya Secondary School, andServices Secondary School - reaching approximately 1,100 students. Students aged 16 to 21 participate in a progressive counselling model, meeting individually with a counsellor three times per academic year. Each session is digitally documented, ensuring continuity in guidance and generating valuable data on student aspirations, challenges, and decision-making over time.
Beyond individual support, the pilot is designed to generate insights that can inform education policy and workforce planning at a national level. Building on early learning and strong collaboration with schools and authorities, the project is expanding to three additional senior secondary schools at the beginning of 2026. This expansion marks an important step toward scaling an evidence-based career counselling model that strengthens human capital development in Sierra Leone.
Download: Pilot in Sierra Leone – Data Report (June 2025, PDF)