Minister of Technical and Higher Education Receives Retreat Report from UASA.

The Minister of Technical and Highe r Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has received a Retreat Report from the Executive of the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) at the Ministry’s Conference Room.

In her remarks, the Minister commended UASA for its invaluable contributions to Sierra Leone’s intellectual culture and academic reforms. The UASA delegation was led by president Dr. Brima Gegbe, while the official submission of the report was made by Secretary-General, Abu Bakar Sheriff.

UASA, representing academic staff across public tertiary institutions, convened a three-day retreat in Kenema in May 2025 under the theme “The Role of Tertiary Institutions in Strengthening Quality Education and the Big Five Game Changers.” The event brought together academics, policymakers, and government officials to reflect on the role of higher education in national development.

The retreat explored key issues, including:

Assessing the Free Quality Education (FQE) programme;

Aligning tertiary education with the Big Five priorities;

Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders;

Expanding opportunities for research, innovation, and capacity building.

Key outcomes highlighted the need for deeper evaluation of FQE, closer collaboration with MBSSE and TEC, reforms in financing and infrastructure, and stronger research-driven advocacy for curriculum reforms.

During the same meeting, UASA and the Ministry also discussed the 2025–2028 Conditions of Service (CoS). The Minister urged Academic Staff Associations (ASAs) to complete their reviews within three months, submit drafts to their Courts, and forward them to TEC for validation. UASA encouraged its members to accelerate this process before the current Executive concludes its tenure in September 2025. A review meeting was scheduled for 29th August 2025 at Freetown Polytechnic.

The Ministry further introduced the WAN GOVT platform for student fee payments, designed to ensure accountability and financial prudence. The platform will provide receipts, safeguard institutional expenditure, and align with strategic development plans.

Meanwhile, USL ASA President Desmond Songo-Davies raised concerns about delays in salary adjustments for promoted staff. While personnel at Njala University and Ernest Bai Koroma University had already received theirs, University of Sierra Leone staff were still awaiting theirs. The Minister requested evidence of the claim and assured that the Ministry would engage the Ministry of Finance to address the issue promptly.

Richard Williams

SLENA Correspondent

Ministry of Technical and Higher Education

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