Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara participated in the official opening of the Africa Skills Week in Ghana by the Minister of Education of Ghana, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.

During a panel discussion dubbed Ministerial Dialogue on Advancing Skills Development in Africa, held at the Palms Convention Centre (La palm Hotel) Minister Aziz Kamara described the government’s role as key in realizing the successful strides already made, and also explained the interventions of the government relating to the promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He said in 2019, the government of President Julius Maada Bio introduced the 2019 TVET policy which focuses on upgrading the country’s technical institutes and trying to make them more attractive, changing the negative perception.
Because of the government’s political will and intentionality, the University Act of 2005 was reviewed, transforming some of polytechnics into technical universities.

He also informed the gathering of how the first major step taken by the president was to depoliticize the Universities by relinquishing himself from the Chancellorship and giving opportunities to qualified and reputable Sierra Leoneans to serve in that capacity.

He said in all 16 districts of Sierra Leone, the government have plans to establish Community Technical Colleges with strong emphasis on TVET. Currently, there are eleven Government Technical Institutes in ten districts.

He said quite recently the government engaged in a town hall meeting, thereby explaining the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the public and the imperative of sustainable financing.
In all of these, according to the deputy minister for TVET’s Success, it should be made clear to all that it is the master key, a game-changer, and not an alternative for dropouts as some people believe. He reiterated a call for private Sector and industry partnerships for TVET to thrive in Africa.

The Panel Discussion had other panelists such as Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Libya’s Minister for Technical and Vocational Education, H.E Faraj Khalil Salim, State minister for Higher Education in Uganda, Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo and more , and was moderated by the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Prof. Mohamed Belhocine

They all shared their country’s experiences while promoting TVET and spoke of the dire need to for the African continent to give it the needed attention.