Sightsavers’ Abdulai Dumbuya wins award for inclusive education work

Sightsavers’ technical lead Abdulai ‘Abs’ Dumbuya has been recognised at this year’s Presidential National Best Teachers Awards in Sierra Leone for his work to make education systems more disability inclusive.

Now in their fifth year, the awards celebrate excellence in education across the country. This is the first time they have acknowledged the vital contributions of educators and experts working to ensure that all learners – especially children and young people with disabilities – are safe, welcome and supported in school.

Abs received one of two awards given to individuals involved in the Sightsavers-supported Leh Wi Lan (Let us learn) programme, also known as the Sierra Leone Secondary Education Improvement Programme II. He is the technical lead on disability inclusion for the programme, which is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. It is led by Cambridge Education and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The second award went to Alusine Sheka Koroma, a participant in the Inclusion Champion programme, which has been developed by Leh Wi Lan in collaboration with the ministry and district partners to support educators to embed inclusive practices in their schools and communities.

Abs’ work focuses on strengthening inclusive education systems and building sustainable change. His leadership has helped ensure that disability inclusion is not just an add-on, but a core part of how schools are supported, how school leadership operates and how teachers are trained.

Hamish Higginson, Sightsavers’ global technical lead for inclusive education, said: “So much of embedding disability-inclusive education is about recognising its value and the effort that individuals are required to put in, often with limited or no support. It is fantastic that the Teaching Service Commission and Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education have taken this step to officially amplify the field work of people like Abs, who are making a daily positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities.”