By Fatmata Binta Bah
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on the 26th September 2024, held a town hall meeting on promoting quality higher education on the theme “The Cost of Quality Higher Education: A Collective Responsibility at FBC Multi-Purpose Hall”.
The event was graced by dignitaries, including the Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie who happened to be the keynote Speaker at the event; Rev. Dr. George P. Ernest Gbamanja, a representative from University of Makeni; Dr. Ilara Mahdi, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Finance; Mohamed Rex Bhonapha, President of National Union of Sierra Leone Student (NUSS), student, civil servants, and journalists.
Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie started by thanking the committee for planning the town hall which she said is very timely and for bringing various stakeholders on board before the start of the next academic year to discuss this very important issue of the cost of quality higher technical education, this issue is one that is key because it reflects on how we develop our human capital development and the human capital is essential for growth and sustainability in any country. She stated that since His Excellency first tenure in office in 2018, he made emphasis on free quality education as his flagship program.
She said the government has laid a solid foundation, referring to the free quality education.
She assured that her Ministry will raise the bar higher to enhance quality technical higher education so that students can become positive agents in society.
“The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education has recognise and trained young people for the current labour market and minimise the large number of graduate without skills.
The Ministry is currently partnering with two organisations to further help develop the education management system and quality management system to help guide authorities on the areas that need to be strengthen,” she said.
She further explained that the Ministry, with support from various stakeholders, develop open distance learning policy, adding that the Ministry is also working with other institutions to enable students continue their studies regardless of where they are.
Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie lamented on the challenges faced by the Ministry, citing lack of equipped labs and other teaching facilities.
“The Ministry has set up a technical committee to complement the efforts of government, saying government is contributing 22% of financial budgetary supports to the sector, making it very challenging as government alone cannot do it. Everyone has a crucial role to play to achieve sustainable development, especially in education,” she noted.
