The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) is requesting a recurrent budget of Le 21.5 million for Government Technical Institutes (GTIs) and Le 85.2 million for universities for the 2026 financial year, as part of its overall budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry is seeking increased funding to bolster technical and higher education sectors, emphasizing the need for timely disbursements to support staff promotions, new appointments, and institutional capacity building, aligning with Sierra Leone’s broader human capital development goals.

The proposed budget was presented at George Street in Freetown by Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, supported by Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, senior ministry officials, and heads of higher education institutions.

During the presentation, Minister Wurie highlighted the government’s allocation of 21% of the national budget to education, underscoring a strong commitment to human capital development. However, she expressed concern that only 3% of the education budget is dedicated to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), calling for increased investment to elevate TVET as a credible and high-quality alternative to university education.

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She outlined plans to transform Government Technical Institutes into community technical colleges tailored to local economic needs, such as agriculture in Bo District.

Minister Wurie also warned that Sierra Leone risks losing international partnerships, including with UNESCO, if membership fees are not settled promptly, which could jeopardize access to funding opportunities.

Reporting on budget execution, Senior Budget Officer Laima A.K. Dumbuya noted that the 2024 approved budget totaled Le 188.9 million for recurrent expenses and Le 43.5 million for public investments, with 80% of recurrent funds and 35% of capital funds already expended.

The performance for the first half of 2025 was similar, though some variances were noted, including over-expenditure at universities due to overdue severance and Government Grant-in-Aid (GIA). Some projects, like teacher-training rehabilitation and the construction of the national archives, did not receive disbursements.

The ministry’s appeal for increased funding and timely disbursements aims to strengthen the technical and higher education sectors, support staff promotions and new appointments, and build institutional capacity, all essential components of Sierra Leone’s human capital development strategy.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/100064859194056/posts/1192948089543820/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v