This Women’s Month, Schools for Salone is hosting an important conversation about the future of girls education in Sierra Leone. On March 25th, 2026, education leaders and advocates will come together for a live webinar titled, “Close the Secondary School Gender Gap: Girls Must Graduate!”

Education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and communities. Yet, for so many girls in Sierra Leone, the journey through school ends far too soon. 

Research from UNESCO highlights a significant gender gap in educational attainment. While thousands of girls enroll in school, only 12.5% of girls complete secondary school education, compared to 20.4% of boys.

The gap reflects a complex set of barriers that disproportionately affect girls including economic challenges, social pressures, lack of access to menstrual hygiene resources, and limited support systems that enable the girl to stay in school. 

The webinar will explore these challenges and highlight solutions that can help more girls finish their education. 

Set for March 25th, 2025, the webinar will be hosted by Vickie Remoe at 9:30 AM Pacific time / 12:30 PM Eastern time / 5:30 PM GMT. You can register here: https://streamyard.com/watch/HrP4QY6wvNaQ 

Meet the Speakers

Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan – Professor, First Female Deputy Vice Chancellor – IPAM

Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan is a distinguished scholar and educational leader who made history as the first female Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) at the University of Sierra Leone.

Her career spans decades of teaching, research, and institutional leadership. She began her academic journey with a BA from Fourah Bay College, later earning a Master’s Degree in Linguistics and English Language Teaching from Leeds University. 

Professor Conteh-Morgan has taught African Literature and writing courses at leading institutions in the U.S., including Harvard University and Ohio University, before transitioning into academic librarianship. She later returned to Sierra Leone where she led the modernization of the IPAM Library, expanding access to digital resources and research networks. 

Throughout her career, she has served as a mentor, innovator, and advocate for academic excellence in Sierra Leone’s higher education system.

Dr. Yakama Manty Jones – Economist, Founder of Yak Jones Foundation

Dr. Yakama Manty Jones is an economist and philanthropist with deep expertise in development economics, finance, econometrics, and project management. 

She holds multiple academic qualifications including a BSc in Economics from Fourah Bay College, which she completed at the age of 18, postgraduate studies at the University of Manchester, and advanced degrees from the University of London, including a PhD in Finance and Economics. She has also completed programs at the University of Oxford and the Harvard Kennedy School. 

Dr. Jones is an Amujae Leader at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Presidential Centre for Women and Development and the founder of the Yak Jones Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting education and encouraging a strong reading culture in Sierra Leone.

Through initiatives such as textbook drives, reading competitions, and partnerships with literacy groups, her foundation works to expand access to educational resources and inspire young leaders.

Dr. Bidemi Carrol – Global Education Specialist

Dr. Bidemi Carrol is an international education expert with more than 18 years of experience working on education policy and programming across sub-Saharan Africa.

Her work has supported projects in Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, and Malawi, focusing on strengthening education systems and improving learning outcomes. 

Dr. Carrol’s expertise includes research and policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation of education programs, and the management of complex development initiatives. She has worked extensively on issues such as girls’ education, education in post-conflict and fragile states, and education management information systems.

She is a founding member of; The Learning Foundation, the RISE Network, and the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research, a board member of Schools for Salone, and holds a PhD and Master’s Degree from Stanford University. 

Join the Conversation

Closing the gender gap in education requires collaboration, innovative solutions, and a shared commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to finish school.

This Women’s Month, join Schools for Salone and a panel of leading education experts as they discuss the barriers facing girls in secondary school and explore pathways towards progress. 

Date: March 25th, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM Pacific / 12:30 PM Eastern / 5:30 PM Freetown

Register here: https://streamyard.com/watch/HrP4QY6wvNaQ 

Together we can work towards a future where every girl who starts secondary school has the support and opportunity to graduate.