By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha Wurie and his Deputy, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara, has been speaking to the media about the recently approved Sierra Leone Grant-In-Aid and the status of the Student Loan Scheme. At the weekly government press briefing, hosted at the Ministry of Information and Communications conference room, on Thursday 4th August 2022, top government officials discussed the progress that has so far been made in the Education Sector.
Setting the tone for the deliberations, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru Esq said that Higher Education continues to make progress under the Leadership of President Bio and assured that there are level-headed and fully fit individuals that are ready to sustain and improve on the gains that have already been made.
In the same vein, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie disclosed that President Bio thought it fit to differentiate between Basic and Tertiary Education because of the thrust of achieving results. He said that in 2018, over thirty thousand (30,000) pupils sat the WASSCE but noted that the 2021figures suggest that over one hundred thousand (100,000) pupils took the exam. The Minister said that such is happening because the systems and processes are now in place. He added that it also meant pupils are now transitioning from Primary and Secondary Schools to Universities and colleges.
The Minister also spoke about an institution like the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA), which now exists to man the affairs of TVET and other programs. He said that over three (3,000) students took the past NCTVA exams, noting that such was a huge difference and progress achieved.
“Government is aware that not everyone would be able to proceed to University, and that is why the Higher Education Ministry is now putting all modalities in place” Professor Wurie emphasized.
“Lots of people have skills but no certificate so NCTVA assesses them and certifies them with regards the level they are, based on competence. That is how higher education now takes people into the technical and vocational education” he continued.
The Minister said that the ministry will continue to pursue inclusive education and improve the rating on technical education, adding that the government’s support for the numbers for higher education is increasing.
“People who have been away from the school system are coming back,” he said.
Professor Wurie added that Technical and Higher Education was very important and that all efforts must be made to ensure that more goodies were achieved and said that to achieve this; they have established Workshops with craftsmen that will have modes of assessing people and certifying them. He said this is part of formal education and if students choose that option, they can still get to tertiary education such as Polytechnics and Technical Vocational institutes where they can get diplomas and higher diplomas that will allow them to work anywhere.
Speaking about the recently approved Sierra Leone Grant-In-Aid, Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sajorh Aziz Kamara, said that education is hugely subsidized, and citing this year’s government Grants-In-Aid that attracted 11,000 applicants, twice the number of applicants in the previous two years, which had 6 &5 thousand, respectively. He said this year; the ministry awarded 3700 Grants In-Aid to needy and worthy students.
“It’s not enough but that’s what is available. To ensure inclusion every district had the opportunity to apply.’ he said.
Sajoh Aziz Kamara added that the grants were given based on the number of applicants per district and courses offered.
On the Student loan scheme, the Deputy Minister said that the scheme is on course and in progress, adding that it is open to all, irrespective of background or political orientation, while also revealing that it will be rolled out by September this year.
‘We will ensure people are in the system. We will cover postgraduate students, international awards to cover air tickets and allocations, for TVET, we will cover tuition, lodging, and other essential educational needs” Mr. Kamara concluded.
