THE NEW SSS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

Sciences & Technologies Stream

Core Subjects Applied Subjects Everyday Subjects
1. Integrated science 1. Environmental Science 1. Adolescent Health & Life Skills
2. Biology 2. Health Science 2. Computer Literacy
3. Chemistry 3. Food Security 3. Popular Science
4. Computer science 4. Engineering Science
5. Agricultural Science 5. Physical Health Science
6. ICT 6. Genetics & Bio-Engineering
7. Robotics
8. Physics (Later)

Mathematics & Numeracy Stream

Core Subjects Applied Subjects Everyday Subjects
1. Fundamentals of Mathematics 1. mathematics for Business and 1. Introductory Statistics &
Enterprise Probability
2. Further Mathematics 2. Mathematics Applications for 2. Functional Mathematics
Coding
3. Statistics & Probability 3. Mathematics for STEAMM
4. Calculus 4. Computer Mathematics
5. Maths for other Disciplines

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 Languages & Literatures Stream
Core Subjects Applied Subjects Everyday Subjects
1. English Language 1. Creative Writing 1. Everyday Basic French
2. English Literature 2. Business English 2. Popular Literature Appreciation
3. French as a Foreign Language 3. French for Tourism 3. Arabic Language4. Fula
4. Sierra Leone Literature 4. Technical Writing
5. Sierra Leone Languages (Mende, 5. English for STEAMM
Kathemne, Hulimba, Krio)
6. African Literature 6. French for Business and Marketing
7. Language for Special Needs Education
(Later)

Economics, Business & Entrepreneurial Studies Stream

Core Subjects Applied Subjects Everyday Subjects
1. Principles of Economics 1. Principles of Marketing 1. Business and Society
2. Enterpreneurship 2. Business Accounting 2. Customer Relations
Management
3. Principles of Accounting 3. Clerical Office Duties 3. Micro/Small/Medium Enterprise
Management
4. Business Management Studies 4. Insurance Management 4. Business Ethics
5. Principles of Commerce 5. Business Economics

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 Social & Cultural Studies Stream
Core Subjects Applied Subjects Everyday Subjects
1. History of Sierra Leone 1. Geography & Environment 1. Dance Performance & Appreciation
2. African History 2. Music as Applied Subject 2. Mining Industry & The Environment
3. Geography 3. Entertainment Industry 3. Fishing Industry & The Environment
4. Music 4. Derivatives of Religious and 4. Tourism & Conservation
Moral Education
5. Dance & Drama Studies 5. Living with Religious and Moral
Education
6. Politics & Governance
7. Social Studies & Civics
8. Religious and Moral Education (RME)

CHOICE TEMPLATE TO GUIDE LEARNERS IN SELECTION OF SUBJECTS

Core subjects Applied subjects Everyday subjects
From the specialist stream Minimum=3 Minimum=1 NOT ALLOWED
Choice of subjects allowed Maximum=4 Maximum=2 Everyday subjects
From other streams Core subjects Minimum =1 Minimum=1
Choice of subjects allowed NOT ALLOWED Maximum=2 Maximum=2

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STREAMS SELECTED & SUBJECTS CHOSEN BY LEARNERS

Upon successful completion of basic education (Post BECE), every learner should decide the specialist stream in which he/she
will pursue senior secondary education. Within their selected stream, every learner should choose to study at least 3 ( and not
more than 4) core subjects from the set of core subjects offered in that stream by their senior secondary school. In addition,
every learner should choose to study at least 1 (and not more than 2) applied subjects from the set of applied subjects offered
in their selected stream by the school. Furthermore, every learner should choose to study at least 1 ( and not more than 2)
subjects from the sets of applied subjects that are offered outside of their specialist stream and available in their senior
secondary school. Finally, learners should choose to study at least 1 (and not more than 2) everyday subjects that are offered
outside of their specialist stream in their school.

Applying these selection rules,, it can be seen that the minimum number of subjects a learner can choose is 6 (six), and the
maximum number of subjects that can be chosen is 10 (ten). Also, the ways in which a learner can choose subjects, depending
on the total number of subjects he/she wishes to take will be determined by the possible permutations & combinations
summarized in the following chart:

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 NUMBER OF SUBJECTS CHOSEN BY LEARNER FROM SCHOOL LISTS

Permutations & Combinations of subject selection by SSS Learners by interests/aspirations & requirements

SELECTED SPECIALIST STREAMS OTHER AVAILABLE STREAMS

Core Applied Everyday Core Applied Everyday Total
3 1 N/A N/A 1 1 6
4 1 N/A N/A 1 1 7
3 2 N/A N/A 1 1 7
3 1 N/A N/A 2 1 7
3 1 N/A N/A 1 2 7
3 2 N/A N/A 2 1 8
3 2 N/A N/A 1 2 8
3 1 N/A N/A 2 2 8
4 2 N/A N/A 1 1 8
4 1 N/A N/A 2 1 8
4 1 N/A N/A 2 1 8
3 2 N/A N/A 2 2 9
4 2 N/A N/A 1 2 9
4 1 N/A N/A 2 2 9
4 2 N/A N/A 2 1 9
4 2 N/A N/A 2 2 10

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 ❖ Learners wishing to take a total of 6 subjects have only 1 permutation and combination of subjects from their selected
specialist stream and other available streams.
❖ Learners wishing to take a total of 7 subjects have 4 permutations and combinations of subjects from their selected
specialist stream and other available streams.
❖ Learners wishing to take a total of 8 subjects have 6 permutations and combinations of subjects from their selected
specialist stream and other available streams.
❖ Learners wishing to take a total of 9 subjects have 4 permutations and combinations of subjects from their selected
specialist stream and other available streams.
❖ Learners wishing to take a total of 10 subjects have only 1 permutation and combination of subjects from their
selected specialist stream and other available streams.
❖ A Learner may choose a maximum of 4 and a minimum of 3 Core Subjects from his or her specialist stream and a
maximum of 2 and a minimum of 1 Applied Subject from either his/her specialist stream or from other streams, and a
learner is NOT ALLOWED to choose any EVERYDAY SUBJECTS from his/her specialist stream but can choose a
maximum of 2 and a minimum of 1 EVERYDAY SUBJECT from other streams.

This therefore implies that a learner can choose a minimum of 6 subjects and a maximum of 10 subjects from across the
three subject divisions-core subjects, applied subjects and everyday subjects.

The five specialist streams are as follows:

1. Sciences and Technologies Stream

2. Languages and Literatures Stream
3. Mathematics and Numeracy Stream
4. Economics, Business and Entrepreneurial Studies Stream
5. Social and Cultural Studies Stream

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A RESOURCE-INTENSIVE APPROACH

The transformative nature of the new SSS Curriculum requires a resource-intensive approach for implementation. This is a
shift from the standard practice of providing prescribed textbooks, supplementary materials and equipment/supplies to
implement the curriculum. The new curriculum requires creative use of local resources as well as ready access to the latest
resources from multiple sources. It is strongly recommended that a ‘’Resource Repository’’ be part of the curriculum
implementation strategy. Teachers and learners across the country will need support to access a wide variety of resources
through computers, tablets, mobile phones, radio, training workshops, and other channels that are becoming widely
available in the country.

IMPORTANCE OF THE NEW SSS CURRICULUM

The new SSS Curriculum reduces the need for shadow entities by enabling schools to offer a wide range of subjects that serve
learners in any specialist area they wish to study. It also enables schools to gain excellence if they concentrate on streams for
which they can provide quality and exam success.

The new curriculum seeks to educate learners for tomorrow’s world and enable them to acquire 21 st century competencies,
despite constraints. This new SSS curriculum facilitates ‘’radical inclusion’’ at senior secondary level. All learners can choose
subjects they are keen to study and successfully pursue senior secondary education with enthusiasm. Learners will no longer
be forced to study subjects they are not keen on. For requirement subjects like Mathematics or English the new curriculum
offers customized versions in line with the interests and aspirations of learners. So, Mathematics for Business & Enterprise,
STEAMM Mathematics, Business English, English for STEAMM are all customized versions of requirement subjects that should
appeal to learners who aspire to be in business and enterprise or in engineering, science, agriculture, medicine, mining, etc. it
is critical that tertiary institutions accept these versions as appropriate for the requirement subjects that determine entry to
various university courses.

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Guidelines for schools to offer subject streams are shown below:

1. All senior secondary schools must offer at least 3 discipline-based streams drawn from the set of 5 streams proposed
for the senior secondary curriculum.
2. An SSS may offer up to maximum of 5 streams, if it has the capacity to do so, and meets official criteria set for offering
each of the stream.
3. Decisions on how many streams ( and which streams) a school can offer, should be based on capability criteria relating
to staffing levels & quality, adequate facilities, appropriate equipment, and track-record of competence

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