30/05/2026
MTHE Engages Stakeholders on Implementation of Centralized Admissions System
Freetown, May 30, 2026
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has held a high-level stakeholder engagement on the implementation of Sierra Leone’s proposed Centralized Admissions System (CAS), bringing together university leaders, regulators, examination bodies, technology institutions, and government agencies at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown.
The consultation forms part of ongoing efforts to reform higher education admissions and establish a transparent, efficient, and equitable system for students seeking entry into tertiary institutions across the country.
Calling the meeting to order, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Mohamed Sheick Kargbo, described the gathering as a critical step in the Government’s efforts to modernize higher education administration and expand access to tertiary education.
He acknowledged that one of the key challenges in implementing reforms is managing resistance to change, noting that some individuals may be skeptical about new initiatives and their implications for existing institutional practices. He emphasized the importance of addressing such perceptions through dialogue and engagement.
The Permanent Secretary assured stakeholders that the proposed initiative was not intended to diminish the roles or responsibilities of end users. Rather, he explained, it was designed to enhance coordination, strengthen admission processes, and improve overall efficiency within the higher education sector.
In his welcome address, MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, welcomed participants and described the gathering as a significant milestone for the education sector. He extended special recognition to delegates from Nigeria and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to collaboration in advancing higher education reforms.
The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, noted that Sierra Leone is now taking concrete steps toward implementing the centralized admissions system.
She explained that the current decentralized admissions process has created inefficiencies due to the limited time between the release of WASSCE results and the commencement of academic programmes. Under the proposed model, students would apply during their penultimate year of secondary school and receive conditional offers before sitting to their final examinations, with admissions later confirmed through an integrated digital platform linked to WAEC’s results system.
Dr. Wurie emphasized that the reform has already received Cabinet approval and is backed by the Universities Act of 2021. She added that the system will serve both universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, ensuring wider access to higher education opportunities.
She highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative, involving TEC, WAEC, NCRA, NATCA, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and technology partners, while acknowledging the valuable support received from Nigeria’s education authorities.
“Our objective is not replication, but adaptation,” Dr. Wurie said, stressing that Sierra Leone’s system would be tailored to the country’s unique educational landscape and development priorities.
The Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, said the proposed centralized admissions system is anchored in the Universities Act of 2021 and aims to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and fairness in admissions processes nationwide.
He expressed delight in Cabinet’s approval of the establishment of a Centralized Admissions Secretariat within the Ministry to oversee admissions through a unified digital platform. According to him, the reform supports the Government of Sierra Leone’s human capital development agenda under President Julius Maada Bio and is being championed by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie.
Aziz-Kamara emphasized the importance of broad stakeholder participation in shaping the system and noted that insights from Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) would help guide the reform process.
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, described the initiative as a major step toward transparency, equity, and accountability in higher education admissions. He said the new system would ensure that all students are assessed using the same criteria, regardless of their background or location, and would help eliminate uncertainty surrounding university admissions.
The Chairman of the Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, Prof. Edwin J.J. Momoh, expressed strong support for the initiative, describing it as a landmark reform that could transform higher education admissions in Sierra Leone.
Prof. Momoh said the centralized system would address longstanding challenges such as multiple applications, inconsistencies in admission criteria, delays in communication, duplication of records, and limited access to information. He added that the platform would create a transparent pathway for qualified students to gain admission regardless of their location, gender, or socioeconomic background.
Chairman of the Conference of Principals, Peter J. Sandy, welcomed the initiative, stating that it would strengthen the credibility of the admissions process and help curb the use of fraudulent examination results. He noted that students in provincial areas would particularly benefit from improved access to admissions services through the digital platform.
The Head of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Sierra Leone, Matilda Jusu, pledged the council’s support for the reform. She stressed the critical role of examinations such as the BECE and WASSCE in determining students’ progression through the education system and reaffirmed WAEC’s commitment to supporting innovations that improve educational access and quality.
Representing the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), Prof. Osman Sankoh said the Commission fully supports the initiative and is prepared to align its regulatory framework with the new admissions system. He described the reform as a commitment to equity and integrity in higher education admissions and welcomed collaboration with Nigeria’s JAMB.
The National Telecommunications Authority (NATCA), represented by Director of Corporate and Industry Affairs Abdul Ben Foday, assured stakeholders of the institution’s support in providing regulatory oversight, data security, and nationwide connectivity for the digital platform. He said telecommunications operators and internet service providers would play a key role in ensuring access for students in underserved communities.
Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Massaquoi, also pledged full support for the reform and underscored the importance of integrating the National Identification Number (NIN) into the admissions process.
According to Massaquoi, the use of NINs would help eliminate identity fraud, duplicate applications, impersonation, and the submission of fraudulent academic records while strengthening the integrity of admissions data.
A key feature of the engagement was the participation of Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, commended the Government of Sierra Leone for adopting an inclusive approach to the reform and assured stakeholders of Nigeria’s continued technical support.
Prof. Oloyede noted that Nigeria established its centralized admissions system in 1978 to address similar challenges and said Sierra Leone could benefit from lessons learned over decades of implementation. He conveyed the support of Nigeria’s Minister of Education and pledged JAMB’s assistance throughout the process.
The engagement also featured presentations on current admissions processes in Sierra Leone’s higher education institutions and Nigeria’s centralized admissions model. The presentations were followed by a plenary discussion led by MTHE’s Director of Higher Education, Emmanuel J. Momoh Esq., before the event concluded with a vote of thanks from MTHE’s Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku.
