Government Begins Verification of Disabled University Students Across Sierra Leone

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the National Commission for Persons with Disability, has launched a nationwide verification exercise targeting students with disabilities enrolled in tertiary institutions across the country as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and protect educational benefits guaranteed under the law.

The initiative, led by Brima Abdulai Sheriff, began earlier this year at Eastern Technical University before expanding to Njala University across all its campuses. The process has since continued this quarter at Fourah Bay College and the Institute of Public Administration and Management.

According to the Commission, the exercise is aimed at ensuring that students benefiting from disability-related educational support genuinely qualify under the provisions of the Persons with Disability Act, 2011.

Section 14 of the Act guarantees free tertiary education for students with disabilities attending government-accredited institutions. The Commission said it is legally mandated to oversee and authenticate eligibility for these benefits in order to safeguard the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities nationwide.

Officials of the Commission stated that the verification process is being conducted through a structured and evidence-based system designed to promote transparency and prevent abuse of the educational provision.

At both Fourah Bay College and the Institute of Public Administration and Management, university authorities reportedly welcomed the Commission’s verification teams and provided access to student records to support the process.

The institutions also offered administrative and moral support throughout the exercise, reflecting what officials described as a shared commitment to fairness, integrity, and disability inclusion.

The Commission explained that students with visible disabilities underwent direct confirmation during the exercise, while those with less visible or invisible conditions, including psychosocial, neurological, and internal medical conditions, were referred to Sightsavers and designated government hospitals for medical assessment and confirmation.

According to the Commission, this approach ensures that verification decisions are made professionally and in line with national standards.

Commissioner Sheriff described the initiative as the beginning of a new era of accountability in the management of disability-related educational benefits. He stated that the introduction of a transparent and standardized verification process is intended to protect the integrity of the law while ensuring that support reaches legitimate beneficiaries.

The Commission further disclosed that at the end of every institutional verification exercise, detailed reports containing the names of confirmed students are prepared and submitted to university registrars and senior management teams.

Copies are also forwarded to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education to strengthen coordination and accountability within government institutions.

The National Commission for Persons with Disability expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation received from the participating universities, including Eastern Technical University, Njala University, Fourah Bay College, and IPAM.

The Commission said the nationwide exercise reflects its continued commitment to transparency, equity, and the rule of law in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone’s education sector.

As the exercise continues across the country, officials say the initiative is expected to strengthen confidence in the implementation of disability policies while ensuring that educational opportunities are protected for deserving students with disabilities.