By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, and the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, held discussions with the leadership of the Mastercard Foundation on 29 June 2026 in Freetown.
The engagement took place ahead of the upcoming Young Africa Works Summit scheduled to be held in Kigali. According to the statement, discussions focused on youth opportunities, the future of work, and the evolving labour market, particularly in relation to skills development and employment pathways.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education is responsible for primary and secondary education in Sierra Leone, including the implementation of the Free Quality School Education Programme. The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education oversees technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including universities and skills training institutions, with a focus on linking education to employment. Dr. Wurie leads the technical and higher education portfolio, while Minister Sackey heads the basic and senior secondary education sector.
The Mastercard Foundation is a global philanthropic organisation focused on advancing education and employment opportunities for young people in Africa. Its Young Africa Works strategy aims to enable 30 million young Africans to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, with a strong emphasis on skills development, entrepreneurship, and opportunities in digital and green economies. The Foundation works in partnership with governments, educational institutions, and private sector actors across the continent to strengthen learning-to-employment pathways.
The Young Africa Works Summit in Kigali brings together governments, private sector actors, educators, and young people to review progress on youth employment and skills development across Africa. The summit forms part of the Foundation’s broader efforts to align education and training systems with labour market demands.
In Sierra Leone, both education ministries play a central role in strengthening this alignment. The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education focuses on access, curriculum development, and quality at the foundational level, while the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education leads on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), university education, and post-secondary skills development. Both ministries are actively engaged in ongoing reforms aimed at improving employability and strengthening skills development for young people.