By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
Sierra
Leone’s Ministry of Technical and Higher Education has stepped up its efforts
to transform the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) sector through a series of strategic engagements aimed at strengthening
skills development, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.
The
discussions, led by Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja
Ramatulai Wurie, brought together international education experts, industry
representatives and government stakeholders to explore initiatives that align
technical education with national development priorities and labour market
demands.
One
of the engagements involved the BIO-VET Project delegation, comprising European
agricultural and vocational education experts as well as representatives from
the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD). Discussions
focused on strengthening TVET systems, enhancing entrepreneurship education and
fostering stronger linkages between educational institutions, industry and the
broader economy.
The
Ministry outlined ongoing reforms to transform Government Technical Institutes
into Community Technical Colleges that are closely aligned with local economic
activities. The initiative seeks to promote practical skills development,
innovation and job creation while ensuring that training programmes respond to
the needs of communities and employers.
The
BIO-VET delegation shared experiences from Europe on integrating
entrepreneurship, applied learning and innovation into vocational education
systems. Discussions also explored opportunities for collaboration in
curriculum development, faculty exchanges, research partnerships and support
for small and medium-sized enterprises and agribusiness development.
In
a separate engagement, the Ministry met with a delegation led by Sierra Leone’s
Ambassador to China to discuss plans for transforming an existing government
technical institute into a Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.
The
proposed centre is intended to support the government’s industrialisation
agenda through the development of an agricultural park model and the creation
of a stronger skills-for-jobs pipeline. The discussions examined international
best practices in the establishment of Centres of Excellence and skills
development systems to guide the project's design and implementation.
The
Ministry said the engagements underscore its commitment to repositioning TVET
as a key driver of productivity, employment generation and inclusive economic
growth, while equipping young people with the skills required to contribute
effectively to Sierra Leone’s development.
