Providing Housing for Teachers

Published Wed, Aug 28, 2024
Written by Dana Kaltenberger

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EduNations strives to hire qualified teachers from within the country of Sierra Leone.  When a teacher is hired, they move from their home village to one of our rural communities where are schools are located.  Due to poor road conditions and distance, commuting to and from work is not possible.  The need for suitable accommodations near the schools is crucial.  As you can imagine, rental properties are not commonly available in these extremely remote areas in Northern Sierra Leone, so providing accommodation for our teachers is as important as the learning environment.

Attracting and retaining quality teachers can be challenging in remote areas if suitable housing is not available, teachers may be reluctant to accept responsibilities if they cannot find adequate accommodation.

The availability of teacher housing helps ensure that teachers can live close to the school, enabling them to be more engaged in the local communities. This can improve teacher satisfaction and retention in remote schools.

Teachers' Quarters in Mabum Station

 

Currently, there are three communities with teachers quarters: Mapainda, Fintonia, and Mabum.  Teacher’s housing continues to be a challenge in Gbenekoro, Rokassa, and Mayatta.  If funding is available, we plan to construct the Gbenekoro teachers quarters this academic year and Rokassa and Mayatta soon after.

The teachers’ quarters in Fintonia and Mabum were constructed earlier this year.  The project was supervised EduNations Education Secretary, Michael Turay, with the funds provided by our generous donors.  The Fintonia teachers’ quarters will house 12 staff and the Mabum quarters will house 8 staff when schools re-open in September.

“As a newly employed teacher of EduNations, I was worried about finding suitable housing in this remote village. The apartment the school provides me has been a huge relief and has made my transition to this community smoother.” Joseph Alie Kamara, Fintonia teacher  “The housing provided by the organization has been a game-changer for me and others. Having a comfortable and affordable place live has allowed me to really focus on my teaching and get involved in the community.” – Sarah Kargbo, Mabum Nursery School Head Teacher Thank you to all our generous donors and supporters for faithfully giving to meet the needs of our teachers and students!