July 12, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
With a consensus voice, the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone unanimously enacted the 2021 University Bill into a law granting the legal status for the establishment three new Universities.
These include the Kono University of Science and Technology in Kono, the Milton Margai University in the Western Area and the Eastern Polytechnic University in Kenema District in the Eastern Part of Sierra Leone.
In his euphoric gratification for the successful passing of the bill, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education Professor Alpha Wurie confessed that Honorable Members of Parliament have demonstrated quiet clearly that irrespective of their political affiliation, they upheld a national call by enacting the University Bill of 2021.
He added that it was indeed a national indication of commitment by the house of Parliament in enacting the University Bill 2021. He encouraged Members of Parliament to be serious in upgrading the educational sector which will make the country to be a developed nation.
Professor Wurrie said that the Educational Sector must provide the Medical doctors, the lawyers, the Agriculturists, the Economists among other profesionals in the country.
He stressed that the Educational sector holds promise t to make Sierra Leone actualize its Human Capital Development aspiration as envisioned by H.E President Bio.
“As Members of Parliament indeed you have demonstrated that when you consider something critical as the just enacted University Bill, you came together as one and successfully passed the Bill into law. Let me assure you all that the Enactment of the University Bill 2021 is for the benefit of so many students by providing them higher education for every student upon completion of their high school irrespective of their geographical locations”, he said .
The Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Nyuma extended his gratitude to Members of Parliament especially to the Main Opposition All People’s Congress Party (APC) for their support towards enacting the bill. He noted that they are not enemies but rather partners in nation building. He added that their similarities as Members of Parliament are far greater than their differences which is the more reason they under the same roof as Members of Parliament as positive and critical thinkers. He said “we argue, we debate, but we have a common position which is Sierra Leone first”
He encouraged citizens to follow the New Direction Government, criticize the Government but however, reminded them not to forget to do a constructive criticism of President Bio’s Administration adding that, the people should criticize them base on their manifesto which is the social contract they signed with the people of Sierra Leone. Hon. Nyuma Continued that Human Capital development is the corner stone of President Bio’s administration and the president has started achieving it by establishing more tertiary institutions which are the Kono University of Science and Technology, Milton Margai University and the Eastern Polytechnic University.
The Leader of the main Opposition All People’s Congress Party Hon. Chernor Maju Bah lauded the Minister of Technical and Higher Education Professor Alpha Wurie for what he described as a fantastic job done by the Minister for ensuring that the University Bill of 2021 is enacted. He said the enacted Bill has now legalized the establishment of three new Universities across the country. He acknowledged that Education is not cheap and therefore warned that while the country keeps on yearning for the establishment of institution of higher learning, he also warned the government to yearn for excellence.
Hon. Chernor Bah recalled that during the last administration of President Koroma, he said the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology was established. He continued that another three Universities have been established under President Bio’s administration and therefore suggested for those Universities to be equipped with technological gargets. He stressed that if those newly established institutions are not well equipped will never be for science and technology but rather universities only meant for reading and writing. He furthered that the country is looking forward to growing into the technological sector through manufacturing and production but noted that the country will not achieve that if the students are not allowed the space to practice such technological gargets.
He assured the minister and the New Direction Government of their fullest support from the house of Parliament as governance is also challenging. Hon. Bah noted that it is good for the country to make history but the history should be tagged with a good history so that their names will be remembered for making good history. He said despite their political divide in the house of Parliament, they came together for the passing of the University Bill of 2021. He concluded that the Bill came from the New Direction Government but the completion and passing of the Bill will not be the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party Bill because Members of Parliament participated in the passing of the bill and their names will be recorded for the passing of such bill.