MTHE and UN Conclude Preliminary Phase of National Quiz and Debate Competition.

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), in partnership with the United Nations (UN), has concluded the preliminary phase of the National School Quiz and University Debate Competition held at the Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.

The initiative is part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, which will be officially commemorated on October 24, 2025.

The event follows the district-level round held earlier in Bo which brought together outstanding students from various secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country.

Announcing the results, organizers revealed that five secondary schools—Modern High School, Milton Margai School for the Blind, Sierra Leone Grammar School, Annie Walsh Memorial School, and Albert Academy—qualified for the semi-final stage of the quiz competition, scheduled for October 23, 2025.

In the university debate category, Milton Margai Technical University, Limkokwing University, and Freetown Polytechnic advanced to the next round.

Delivering the Keynote address, Idrissa Sannoh, Acting Director of Research, Planning, and Development at MTHE, commended the partnership between the Ministry and the United Nations, describing the competition as a platform that promotes intellectual growth, civic engagement, and the values of peace and cooperation.

“This competition represents more than an academic exercise,” Sannoh said. “It embodies the ideals of the United Nations—dialogue over conflict, learning over ignorance, and cooperation over division.”

He highlighted the UN’s long-standing partnership with Sierra Leone, recalling its vital role in post-war recovery, support during the Ebola and COVID-19 crises, and continued efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sannoh further noted that the 80th anniversary celebration serves as both a reflection on the UN’s achievements and a call to action for young people to build on that legacy.

He urged the youth to promote peace and tolerance, champion education and innovation, uphold gender equality and human rights, and protect the environment for future generations.

Reflecting on the earlier rounds held in Bo, Sannoh praised participants for their enthusiasm and commitment, emphasizing that the competition fosters teamwork and national unity. “This is not just about winning or losing,” he concluded, “but about collective learning and contributing to the building of a better Sierra Leone.”

Contact:

Richard Williams

Ministry of Technical and Higher Education

+232 030 86143