By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, August 20, 2026: Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has outlined sweeping reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and student outcomes across the country’s universities and technical institutions.
Speaking after a virtual engagement with university leadership, Dr. Wurie highlighted measures to address long‑standing challenges, including delays in graduation ceremonies and issuance of degree certificates.
Tackling Graduation Delays
The Minister announced that by November 2026, all graduations in public universities for the current academic year will be completed. This reform brings graduation closer to the end of the academic cycle, enabling students to transition more quickly into employment, further studies, and other opportunities.
Faster Certificate Issuance
Dr. Wurie revealed that the Government Printing Department now has the capacity to print university graduation certificates locally, with required security features. The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education (NCTVE) is also working with the Department to extend this capacity to technical and vocational certificates, ensuring faster issuance while strengthening local expertise.
Technology and Transparency
The Ministry is preparing to introduce online payment systems for tuition fees and other charges through the WanGov platform, aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability in financial management.
Performance Contracts and Monitoring
University leadership has signed performance contracts linked to national education reforms and the National Medium‑Term Development Plan. Longer‑term plans include moving performance monitoring onto a digital platform supported by credible education data, allowing progress to be tracked across institutions.
Linking Education to Industry
The Ministry is building databases of academic programmes, curriculum reviews, industry partnerships, and research outputs. The goal is to ensure training aligns with labour market demand and that research contributes meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s national development agenda.
Significance of the Reforms
These reforms represent a major step in transforming Sierra Leone’s higher education sector. By addressing inefficiencies in graduation and certification, introducing digital systems, and strengthening ties with industry, the Ministry aims to create a student‑centred, accountable, and demand‑driven education system.
Dr. Wurie stressed that the reforms are not just about new systems or technology but about building institutions that work better for young people and the economy. “Our ambition is simple: to train for demand, with industry and for industry, while ensuring our research contributes meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s development,” she said.