Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has completed a 10-day training programme for 122 master trainers as part of preparations for the country’s upcoming national population and housing census.
The training, which commenced on October 14 and ended on October 23, 2026, in Freetown, focused on equipping the trainers with the knowledge and skills required to prepare other personnel for the main data collection exercise.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Statistician General Andrew Bob Johnny emphasised the importance of teamwork, professional development and creating an environment in which staff feel valued and are given opportunities to contribute to the institution’s work.
He said the organisation was committed to delegating responsibilities and building a system in which managers, directors, supervisors and trainers could effectively perform their duties without depending on the constant presence of senior officials.
Johnny also acknowledged the support of the institution’s directors and colleagues, noting that their contributions deserved recognition as Stats SL continued preparations for the census.
Deputy Statistician General Lansana K. Kanneh, who officially declared the training closed, commended the master trainers for their performance and acknowledged the contributions of the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), the CCIT and other officials involved in the process.
Kanneh said the training marked another stage in a series of capacity-building activities that began with in-house training, followed by sessions for the technical core team and other technical personnel before the master trainers were trained.
He explained that the next phase would require the trainers to work diligently in their respective districts, where they would prepare additional personnel for the census. He urged them to share the knowledge and standard operating procedures acquired during the training to ensure consistency and quality throughout the training process.
The Deputy Statistician General stressed that the master trainers had a responsibility to support colleagues who needed assistance, noting that effective teamwork would be essential to achieving the census objectives.
He also cautioned them to exercise their authority responsibly, treat trainees professionally and remain focused on preparing personnel for the main data collection exercise. He said the quality of training must be maintained as knowledge passed from master trainers to other field personnel, including enumerators, area officers and supervisors.
Kanneh further disclosed that participants would undergo performance assessments before selection for subsequent assignments, adding that different personnel would be deployed to roles such as enumeration, field coordination, district coordination and data quality control.
Meanwhile, Statistics Sierra Leone’s Director for Data Science, Theophilus Blaudfaust, presented the results of the master trainers’ assessments, reporting that 122 participants took part in the assessment programme, which involved a total of 878 tests.
He reported a median score of 92.3 per cent and said the average passing mark was 80 per cent. According to him, the final examination recorded an average score of 95.1 per cent, while a separate data quality assessment involving 52 master trainers recorded an average score of 83 per cent.
Blaudfaust encouraged the trainers to review the questions they found difficult and revisit the relevant sections of their training manuals to address weaknesses and strengthen their understanding. He explained that the purpose of the assessment was to identify areas for improvement and establish a strong foundation for data quality rather than create unnecessary competition among participants.
The training programme received support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners. At the close of the ceremony, Kanneh expressed appreciation to the Statistician General, the training partners and the participants before officially declaring the programme closed.
The master trainers are expected to play a central role in preparing census personnel across the country ahead of the main data collection exercise, which the Deputy Statistician General said was scheduled to begin on December 24, 2026.
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