Ministry Of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

MTHE Bids Farewell to 11 Students for Studies in India

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has bid farewell to 11 Sierra Leonean students selected to pursue higher education at NIST University in India.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Minister’s Conference Room, Sababu Building, New England, and was attended by MTHE officials, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the High Commission of India, students, parents, and guardians.

Director of Higher Education, Emmanuel J. Momoh Esq. said the programme followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to expand educational opportunities for Sierra Leoneans in India.

He explained that although the initial arrangement provided for 50 students, 11 were selected for the current intake. He said MTHE negotiated a reduced study package costing approximately US$1,800, covering tuition, accommodation, feeding, and medical services.

Momoh clarified that the arrangement was negotiated by the Ministry with NIST University. He commended His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio for investing in higher education and for creating the enabling environment through bilateral relationships with partners for Sierra,Leoneans, to broaden their horizons. He commended the Hon. Minister, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie for her steadfastness and commitment in promoting technical and higher education.

He urged the students to work hard, respect Indian laws and culture, and return home with skills that would contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.

Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Neeraj Kumar Saini congratulated the students and highlighted India’s continued support for Sierra Leone’s education sector. He disclosed that India provides 50 fully funded ICCR scholarships annually to Sierra Leoneans and 86 fully funded training opportunities for government officials and professionals.
Saini also announced India’s support for the construction of a US$32 million Science and Technology University in Kono, which is expected to create opportunities in engineering, mining, and other science and technology fields.

Acting Director of Research and Planning Idrissa Sannoh reiterated that the NIST programme is partially funded and does not include additional allowances or annual travel support. He said MTHE hopes to expand participation to 100–150 students in the coming years.

National Coordinator for NIST University in Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Sellu, said the 11 students had secured their visas following coordination among NIST, MTHE and the Indian High Commission. He said the students would study fields including Cyber Security, Data Science, Pharmacology, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration.
Sellu said he would accompany the students to India and ensure their proper handover to the university.

Student representative Lahai David Gbatekaka Jah thanked MTHE and the Government of India for the opportunity, assuring them that the students would remain disciplined, focused and committed to making Sierra Leone proud.

Beneficiaries Fatima Bomporoh-Bangura and Samuel Santigie Turay also expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to use the knowledge and skills gained to contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

MTHE Signs Performance Contracts with Agencies

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has signed performance contracts with agencies under its supervision to strengthen accountability, monitoring and service delivery.
The ceremony, held at the Ministry’s Conference Room at the Sababu Building in New England Ville, brought together senior officials and representatives from the Students’ Loan Scheme (SLOAN) and the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Education (NCTVE).

Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer Josephus Brimah said the exercise extends the performance management framework already introduced for universities and polytechnics to agencies under the Ministry. He said the initiative will strengthen supervision and ensure that agreed targets translate into measurable benefits for Sierra Leoneans.

Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Christiana Samu described the signing as symbolic, noting that agencies had already begun implementing their agreed targets.
She said the framework includes a Performance Tracking Table, Managerial Matrix and Project Tracker, which will help the Ministry monitor institutional performance, projects, finances, service delivery and alignment with national priorities.
Samu added that agencies will submit quarterly, half-yearly and annual performance reports, allowing MTHE to assess progress and address implementation challenges.

In her remarks, the Minister, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, commended all those who contributed to this critical initiative and expressed her anticipation of signing a similar agreement for the Tertiary Education Commission in the near future.

The signing reinforces MTHE’s commitment to transparency, accountability and effective delivery across the technical and higher education sector.

27/08/2026

MTHE, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Discuss Education and Jobs

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have held discussions with Vice President Juldeh Jalloh at Tower Hill on expanding education, skills development and employment opportunities for young Sierra Leoneans.

The meeting, held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, focused on the Church’s “Succeed in School” programme, healthcare interventions and plans to establish a Global Education Centre in Sierra Leone.
Vice President Dr.Juldeh Jalloh welcomed the initiative, describing the Global Education Centre as a major opportunity for young people to gain education, skills and employment through technology. He assured the delegation of Government’s support in fast-tracking the documentation needed for the centre.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie said the partnership supports Government’s efforts to expand practical and technology-driven education. She noted that Church-supported equipment for technical institutions was helping students acquire hands-on skills.

Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer Sia Fasuluku also proposed reviving the RACHEL remote-learning initiative to reach communities with limited internet access. She further suggested bringing retired professors from abroad to mentor university lecturers and increase the number of PhD-qualified academics in Sierra Leone.

Senior Church leader Elder Clark G. Gilbert said the proposed Global Education Centre could create hundreds of jobs by connecting Sierra Leonean students and workers with global employers through online education and remote employment.

The engagement ended with the Ministry presenting gifts to members of the visiting delegation.

27/08/2026

Minister Wurie Calls for Stronger Measures Against Examination Malpractice

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie, has called for stronger systems to combat examination malpractice and protect the quality and integrity of higher education in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Wurie made the call on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a special edition of the Civic Town Hall held at the Miatta Civic Centre in Brookfields, Freetown.

She said universities and other higher education institutions must strengthen policies for detecting, investigating and sanctioning academic malpractice, while ensuring safe and confidential channels for reporting wrongdoing.

The Minister disclosed that a long-term plan for the sector is to have examinations conducted using ICT facilities under controlled conditions. She said the Ministry is embracing technology as a tool to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in examinations, while strengthening safeguards to minimise opportunities for malpractice.

On the proposed examination platform, Dr. Wurie said the system would have clearly defined user roles, controlled access and mechanisms for tracking potential breaches. She said Sierra Leone would also learn from countries with experience in implementing similar examination systems.

She noted that a similar platform has already been piloted at IPAM, which is part of the University of Sierra Leone, demonstrating that such a system can work within the Sierra Leonean context. She said it was encouraging that students had embraced the platform and called on the Ministry to scale it up to other institutions.

Dr. Wurie acknowledged that scaling up such a system would require significant investment in ICT infrastructure, the use of artificial intelligence, secure question banks and other safeguards necessary to ensure the integrity and security of examinations.

On the broader issue of quality education, the Minister also raised concerns about institutions offering programmes without the required accreditation, warning that such practices could compromise the quality of education. She urged the public to verify the accreditation status of institutions and programmes before enrolling.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening quality assurance, examination security and accountability across Sierra Leone’s technical and higher education sector.

For Sierra Leone’s higher education system, the goal is not simply to conduct examinations differently, but to build a system where quality is assured, examinations are trusted, and every qualification reflects genuine learning and achievement.