The United Methodist Church of Sierra Leone has 206 primary schools and 22 Secondary Schools. Operation Classroom is in partnership with 10 Secondary Schools. In Sierra Leone the school system is on the British system, but follows basically our school year. A junior secondary school is equivalent to our grades 7-9. A senior secondary school is equivalent to our grades 10-12.

Junior and Secondary Schools

Albert Academy (09238 M ) is located on Berry Street in Freetown. The school started on October 4, 1904 and named after American missionary Rev. Ira E. Albert. It has grown from 6 students to nearly 3200 students. The school has a staff of 126. It is one of the most successful institutions of learning in Sierra Leone. Our major priorities are to purchase a generator we can open our computer lab; provide 50 chairs ($26 each) and 12 tables ($80 each) for the library, and $2300 to renovate the classrooms.

Baoma Secondary School (11698N) is in the Koya chiefdom in the Eastern District and is approximately 175 miles from Freetown. The school has 750 students and a teaching staff of 38. The school emphasizes self-help. Our major priority is to finish a staff duplex and to help establish an oil palm farm to help the school become self-supporting.

 

Fergusson Memorial School (12612 B ) --- is located about 120 miles southeast of Freetown. Fergusson is a boy's school and has an enrollment of 450 with a staff of 28. After 20 years, the staff house was completed in 2007. It has a strong science program and is developing a strong vocational program. Our major priority is to provide the needed tools for the carpentry shop, and renovate the piggery.

Bo Centenary Secondary School (12607 A) Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone. It is the administrative center of the Southern providence the school has an enrollment of over 1000 students. In 2008-09 they plan to divide the school in to a Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School. Our major projects are to complete the renovation of the classrooms, improve the library and provide vocational equipment.

Koidu Secondary School (11698 N) is located about 225 miles from Freetown in the diamond mining area on the edge of Koidu town. It was closed for 5 years during the war. Many of the buildings were badly damaged and some totally destroyed. The school has a current enrollment of over 1700 students. Three of the buildings have been refurbished. 4 other buildings need to be refurbished. The library is being expanded to accommodate the growing student body. They have had no library since the school reopened.

Taiama Secondary School has an enrollment of 500 students. The school emphasizes vocational education. Taiama is another historic town in the history of mission in Sierra Leone. It was in Taiama that the late Missionary Dr. Charles Leader from Indiana settled and built Bible Training Institute. The school is expanding their library to meet the study needs of the students.

Makeni Secondary School (11976N) is located in the capital of the northern province. The first building was built during the war. The second building was completed by the Rocky Mountain Conference. The secondary school has an enrollment of over 600 students. It is on the same campus of the Primary school which has an enrollment of over 600 students. The Minnesota OC ministries recently completed an additional primary school building. . The school is building a science and library building. They have an urgent need for a chapel/auditorium.

Junior Secondary Schools

Freetown UM Girls School (14540A) is located on Circular Drive in Freetown. The school opened in 2001 with 500 girls and now has a present enrollment of 1300 students. It is the only United Methodist Girls School in Freetown. Our major priority is to find a new location for the school.

Fakunya Agricultural and Vocational School (14539 A ) – is located near Moyamba in the chiefdom of Gandorhun. It became a United Methodist School in 2001. It has a current enrollment of 500. The school's major emphasis is vocational education. The school emphasizes community and self help. They have constructed two staff houses. They are presently building another classroom building and renovating the original classroom building. Our major priority is to make the buildings more secure, provide roofing for additional staff houses, and provide vocational equipment.

Mokanji Agricultural and Vocational School (14542 A ) is located on the edge of Mokanji Hills about 40 southeast of Moyamba in the Lower Banta Chiefdom. It has an enrollment of around 300 students. The school has one 7 classroom building. Two new building are needed: a classroom building and an agriculture program building. Staff housing is also needed to attract teachers to come to Mokanji and teach.