By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs (MoPAPA), has begun formal discussions to transform the Civil Service Training College (CSTC) into a Public Service Academy. The initiative forms part of ongoing government reforms aimed at professionalising and strengthening Sierra Leone’s public service.
The decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by the Permanent Secretary of MTHE, Mr. Mohamed Sheick Kargbo, which brought together senior officials from both ministries, technical experts, and representatives of the African Institute of Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), a key partner supporting the reform process.
Speaking at the meeting, MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, stressed that the proposed transformation should go beyond a mere change of name and focus on delivering measurable outcomes. He said the academy should provide continuous training, reorientation, and upskilling for both new entrants and serving public officers to meet the practical demands of public service delivery.
Dr. Brimah called for broad stakeholder consultations, including engagement with retired and experienced civil servants, to ensure training programmes are relevant and fit for purpose. He also emphasized the importance of aligning all courses with the National Qualifications Framework and securing accreditation from relevant statutory bodies. According to him, strong pedagogical capacity among trainers will be critical to the academy’s success.
MTHE’s Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Mr. Abdul Senesie, described the transition as complex, highlighting challenges related to accreditation, certification, and alignment with Sierra Leone’s evolving education and training architecture. He urged wider stakeholder engagement to properly position the proposed academy within the academic, technical and vocational, and emerging micro-credential systems.
From a human resource perspective, MTHE Director of Human Resource, Ms. Rebecca Saffa, pointed to persistent challenges in training coordination, funding, and access. She warned of sustainability risks and proposed innovative financing options and the use of digital learning platforms to support flexible training for adult learners. She also stressed the need to align curricula with existing training needs assessments across ministries to facilitate career progression for officers facing academic entry barriers.
MTHE’s Director of Science Education, Ms. Fatmata Kaiwa, cautioned against the potential fiscal burden of expanding public institutions and suggested that some specialized training needs could be integrated into existing institutions to avoid duplication and excessive costs.
Responding on behalf of MoPAPA, the Director of Public Administration, Mr. Momoh Conteh, said the initiative is anchored in national policy and forms part of President Julius Maada Bio’s public service reform agenda toward 2030. He explained that the current phase involves a management and functional review of the CSTC, which will inform a clear roadmap for its transition into a Public Service Academy.
Mr. Conteh clarified that the reform would replace the CSTC rather than create a new institution, describing it as an expansion of the college’s mandate and scope. He disclosed that land has been identified at Six Mile to host the proposed academy, addressing concerns about space limitations at the current CSTC facility. He added that specialized institutions, including a Foreign Service Academy, would operate under the broader Public Service Academy framework.
He further noted that completion of specific academy courses is expected to be linked to performance appraisal and promotion, drawing on best practices from countries such as Kenya.
IDEP’s Director of Training and Research, Mr. Bakary Dosso, underscored the importance of engaging MTHE due to its oversight role in accreditation and curriculum development. IDEP Training Officer, Mr. Mamadou Cisse, also cautioned against overreliance on donor funding and called for sustainable, government-led financing mechanisms to support the academy.
Officials from both ministries agreed to sustain inclusive consultations as the reform process continues, with the shared goal of building a modern, efficient, and professional public service in Sierra Leone.