Sierra Leone has an education system with six years of primary school (Class 1-6), and six years of secondary school (Form 1-6); secondary schools are divided into junior secondary school (Form 1-3) and senior secondary school (Form 4-6). Students at primary schools are usually 6 to 12 years old, and in secondary schools 13 to 18. Primary education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools.
A seconday school class in Pendembu, Kailahun District
A seconday school class in Pendembu, Kailahun District

The country’s two main Universities are the Fourah Bay College in Freetown, the oldest university in West Africa, founded in 1827, and Njala University in Njala in Bo, founded in 1963. Teacher training colleges and religious seminaries are found in many parts of the country.