Exploring the Challenges Faced by Disadvantage Students in Schools in Sierra Leone: Case Study -Marginalized Students from Low-Income Families

Abstract

The Sierra Leone National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools is the first attempt by the Government of Sierra Leone to provide a roadmap for the day-to-day work of schools and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Disadvantaged student refers to vulnerable, marginalized, and excluded children from accessing free, quality, and inclusive education. This study explores the challenges disadvantaged students face, specifically marginalized learners from low-income families. The study participants were marginalized male and female students from low-income families and their classroom teachers. The data for this study was obtained from primary and secondary sources. Secondary data sources for this study were obtained from published and unpublished sources. From the results, it was concluded that marginalized students from low-income families are significant in inclusion education. The result also indicates that more female participants are taking part in the study, marginalized students from low-income backgrounds are faced with challenges attending school and attending lessons, faced with challenges in participating in lessons, completing homework or exams, feel left out, and unsafe in school. It was recommended that School authorities make the school safe by declaring and ensuring zero tolerance to the use of canes, School Related Gender-Based Violence, train teachers in inclusive learning, boost female students to attend school, participation by including all marginalized students, and decrease exclusion, ensure that girls have the opportunity to receive free primary and secondary education, improve on electricity across the country, and enforce total ban on extra lessons, school picnic, and other activities that could be possible barriers to impede students learning.