Sierra Leone is moving closer to overhauling its higher education admissions process after a high level stakeholder engagement in Freetown brought together government officials, academic leaders, and technology partners to advance plans for a Centralised Admissions System backed by Cabinet approval.
The forum, convened by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Technical and Higher Education at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Freetown, formed part of broader reform efforts following an earlier visit by a Sierra Leonean delegation to Nigeria, where officials observed the operations of Nigeria’s admissions model during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Annual Policy Meeting. Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, subsequently approved a technical mission by JAMB to Sierra Leone to share implementation strategies and practical experience.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, disclosed that the proposed system had received Cabinet approval and is supported by the Universities Act of 2021. She noted that the reform would address inefficiencies in the current decentralised process and create a unified digital platform for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions. Dr. Wurie added that Sierra Leone’s objective is to adapt proven global best practices to its own educational environment, not to replicate another country’s model. She also acknowledged the support of Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, describing it as tremendous.
Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz Kamara revealed that the Cabinet had approved the establishment of a Centralised Admissions Secretariat within the Ministry to oversee the process through a unified digital platform, describing the reform as a major step towards transparency, accountability, and fairness in higher education admissions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, commended Sierra Leone’s inclusive and consultative approach to the reform. He noted that Nigeria established its own centralised admissions system in 1978 to address challenges similar to those now facing Sierra Leone and assured stakeholders of JAMB’s continued technical support. Prof. Oloyede stressed that the aim is not to export the Nigerian model wholesale but to support Sierra Leone in building a system suited to its national realities.
The engagement drew participation from senior officials across Sierra Leone’s education sector, including the Chairman of the Conference of Vice Chancellors and Principals, Prof. Edwin J.J. Momoh, and the Head of WAEC Sierra Leone, Matilda Jusu, among others.
Last Updated on June 1, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
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