Ministry of Information and Civic Education used its weekly press conference at the Miatta Conference Centre to announce sweeping digital reforms for the public service and reaffirm its commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as part of the country’s development strategy.

The updates were presented during the Government Weekly Press Conference held on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at the Miatta Conference Centre, where officials outlined ongoing reforms aimed at modernising public administration and strengthening workforce development across Sierra Leone.

Addressing journalists, Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs Amara Kallon announced the introduction of the Government of Sierra Leone Digital Human Resource Hub, which he said will modernise human resource management across public institutions by improving efficiency, accountability, transparency, and professionalism.

Kallon said the government is replacing manual attendance registers with biometric and GPS-enabled attendance monitoring that will allow civil servants to check in and out electronically using mobile devices. He explained that attendance records will become part of the core competencies used in performance evaluations and promotion decisions to create a more transparent appraisal system.

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According to the minister, the new platform also replaces paper-based performance appraisals with an automated system that calculates employee performance using verified data and annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). He said the KPIs will be aligned with ministerial objectives and the government’s national development priorities.

Kallon said the Digital Human Resource Hub will support real-time monitoring of workforce attendance nationwide while introducing electronic workflow management, digital approvals, and electronic signatures. He noted that the reforms are expected to reduce paperwork, speed up administrative processes, and improve service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies.

He disclosed that approximately 22,000 civil servants are currently being migrated onto the digital platform. The government, he added, is validating and harmonising personnel records to eliminate inconsistencies and establish a single database to strengthen payroll administration, workforce planning, and human resource management.

The minister also highlighted the role of the Public Service Academy in strengthening continuous professional development. He said public officers seeking promotion will be required to complete relevant professional training programs to ensure the civil service remains competent, responsive, and professional.

Kallon further said the reforms will reinforce merit-based promotions through competency assessments, digital performance tracking, and transparent evaluation systems while reducing opportunities for manipulation by limiting physical interactions in administrative processes.

The press conference also focused on the government’s efforts to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara said the government is positioning TVET as a key driver of employment, economic growth, and national development. He said education investments are intended not only to increase access to learning but also to equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills that meet labour market demands.

Aziz-Kamara disclosed that about 22 percent of the national budget has been allocated to education, while the government continues to subsidize more than 80 percent of staff salaries in public universities. He said those investments should produce a skilled workforce capable of advancing national development.

He also said the government is strengthening collaboration with the private sector through the World Bank-supported Second Generation Skills Development Project. According to the deputy minister, employers, industry experts, and members of the TVET Coalition are helping develop curricula to ensure graduates acquire practical skills required by industry.

Aziz-Kamara added that the Ministries of Technical and Higher Education and Agriculture are aligning technical education with the government’s Big Five Game Changers by training technicians capable of maintaining agricultural equipment, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening agricultural value chains to improve food security and economic productivity.

He cautioned prospective students against enrolling in unaccredited technical institutions, warning that certificates issued by non-accredited providers have limited value. He encouraged the public to verify an institution’s accreditation status before pursuing technical training.

Also speaking at the briefing, National Coordinator of the Civil Society Movement Sierra Leone, Juliet Anderson described Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a cornerstone of national development and economic transformation. She called for continued investment in qualified tutors and technical institutions while reflecting on training centres established under the post-war Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) program, which she said largely failed to achieve their intended objectives. Anderson expressed optimism that the government’s renewed focus on TVET reforms would deliver lasting results for Sierra Leone’s human capital development.

Meanwhile, Miss World Sierra Leone 2026 Mariyam Lorba Konneh appealed for nationwide support ahead of the international pageant later this year. She said she would be representing Sierra Leone on the global stage and urged citizens to rally behind her as she prepares to compete against contestants from countries with long-established pageant traditions, including South Africa and the United States.