Hon. Sona Tradre Sesay

About Minister Sesay

Sona Traore Sesay is the Assistant Minister of Student Personnel Services at the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Liberia. Sona was confirmed by the Liberian Senate on April 2, 2024. Before her appointment by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, she was the Executive Director at the LEAD Monrovia Football Academy which is a leadership hub that combines high-quality education with professional football training, life skills, and gender equality programs for underserved children across Liberia.

Additionally, she served as the Life Skills Program Officer and a Self-contained classroom Teacher at the LEAD Monrovia Football Academy where she contributed to molding the minds of young Liberian children through her passion for equal and quality education. From her early years to date, she has served as a leader in various roles and represented the youth of Liberia both locally and internationally.

Minister Sesay holds a Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Gaziantep University.

Minister Sesay is a 2023 Amujae Leader, a 2023 International Visitor’s Leadership Program Impact Awardee, a 2022 Gratitude Network Fellow, and a 2011 YES Alumni. She is dedicated to improving the quality of education for all Liberian children and has created several programs to achieve this goal. She is passionate about addressing issues affecting youth and women in her community and uses her platforms to create awareness and advocate for change. She is a role model in the field of education and actively mentors and encourages more women to become educational leaders.

Responsibilities

                          The Bureau of Student Personnel Services.

The Bureau of Student Personnel Services shall be headed by an Assistant Minister appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate. Under the direction of the Assistant Minister, the Bureau shall undertake the following duties and functions:

a).     Design activities that will enhance student performance in the school                  system, including  supervision, guidance  and counseling programs in                  the  schools;

d).     Ensure the teaching of sports and physical education;

c).     Encourage students’ participation in sports (football, basketball,  track               and field, ect) and other extra- curricular activities at  all  schools;

d).    Ensure the teaching of health education and make provision for  ensuring           access to good  health and health  facilities by the school  community;

e).     Supervise the career development of students;

The Bureau shall establish and administer a National Service Program that will:

a).     Ensure that the national service will be a pre-requisite for full time                        employment;

b).     Ensure that students participate in a national service program during                  the  school vacation  period immediately  preceding their graduation                    from  secondary school;

c).     Ensure that students graduating from universities and colleges perform              a  one (1) year  postgraduate national  service;

d).     Ensure that each student completing the national service program                        receive a certificate of national service  completion;

e).     Ensure that students performing national service are not assigned to                   counties of their origin.

In addition to the functions listed above, the Assistant Minister for Student Personnel Services shall perform the following duties and functions:

a).     Supervise the Directors within the Bureau;

b).     such duties and functions of office as may be assigned or directed by the              Deputy Minister for Instructions or  by the Minister;

c).     Report and be responsible to the Deputy Minister for Instructions