By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Claim: Former Vice President, Victor Foh claimed that Sierra Leone’s education is currently number one in the world.

Verdict: False, there is no evidence to back his claim.

Methodology

In a recent event held by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Sierra Leone, former Vice President, Victor Foh, claimed that Sierra Leone’s educational system is currently rated number one in the world. The claim, which was broadcasted by Sierra Network TV, has now garnered over 1,500 views on Facebook.

In the video, Foh said (between 0:46 – 0:54 seconds of the video) that: “We were joking with our own education, but now we are first in the world, in the educational system.”

To fact-check Victor Foh’s comment the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom team watched through credible data sources. According to World Education Ranking, a site that aggregates data from leading UN agencies on education, Sierra Leone has improved on some indicators but Sierra Leone is still far away from being at the top. Sierra Leone is ranked 146.

The ranking considers the average years of education among the adult population and the expected years of schooling for students under 25 years old.

2022 data from the Right to Education Index also showed some good progress for Sierra Leone on education, on several indicators. However, this data did not in any way prove Foh’s claim that Sierra Leone’s education is now number one.

 Conclusion: Claim by Victor Foh that Sierra Leone’s education is number one in the world is FALSE.

NOTE:

This fact-checked story is a product of the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom on Combating Disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada to enable citizens have access to credible and accurate information during the elections.

The SuperNewsRoom is powered by Africell SL.

U Don Chek Am? Na 4 Chek Am!