MTHE Hosts Nigerian JAMB Experts to Enhance Central Admission Process.

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has hosted experts from Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as Sierra Leone moves forward with plans to establish a centralized admissions system for universities and technical institutions.

The engagement focused on knowledge-sharing, technical guidance, and implementation planning. Discussions explored strategies to modernize and streamline tertiary admissions nationwide, with attention to both policy design and operational readiness.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the admissions landscape. She noted that legal provisions for a centralized system already exist under the Universities Act of 2021, and that Cabinet has approved its implementation.

“We want a one-stop shop where students apply once, and the system works with universities and technical institutes to ensure a seamless process,” said Minister Wurie.

According to the Minister, the reform aims to resolve persistent challenges, including delayed admissions, fragmented application processes, and late release of examination results, disruptions that regularly derail the academic calendar. At present, individual universities manage their own admissions, a system she described as “historically chaotic,” particularly in highly competitive programmes such as medicine.

Under the proposed model, students will apply through a centralized digital platform managed by MTHE in collaboration with universities and government technical institutes. The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has approved the recruitment of staff to operationalize the Central Admissions Secretariat.

Registrar of Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, shared insights from Nigeria’s centralized admissions system, operational since 1978. He explained that the Nigerian model was designed to eliminate duplication, improve transparency, and coordinate placements across a vast national landscape.

Prof. Oloyede stressed the importance of institutional partnership. Universities, he said, must retain authority over admissions criteria, quotas, and programme requirements. Centralized systems function best, he added, when institutions remain actively involved in candidate selection.

He further outlined Nigeria’s use of a digital Central Admissions Processing System, which integrates candidate preferences, institutional capacity, and national standards, enabling real-time tracking for accountability. The Nigerian system processes over two million applicants annually.

MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, traced the evolution of Sierra Leone’s reform agenda to the establishment of MTHE in 2018. He noted that the Universities Act of 2021 embedded the centralized admissions concept within legislation to strengthen coordination across both public and private institutions.

Funding arrangements also featured prominently in discussions. Officials acknowledged that universities currently generate revenue through individual application fees, income that could be impacted under a centralized model.

Government is now exploring a revenue-sharing framework in which institutions would receive application fee equivalents for admitted candidates, while surplus funds would support the Secretariat’s operations. Authorities say the goal is to ensure financial sustainability without imposing additional burdens on public finances.

MTHE Permanent Secretary, Mohamed Sheick Kargbo, emphasized the importance of building a system that fits Sierra Leone’s governance structure and educational realities. He cautioned against outrightly replicating foreign models.

“While studying several international frameworks, our objective is to develop a hybrid model shaped by national priorities, including equity considerations for underserved regions,” Mr. Kargbo said.

The technical engagement marks another step forward in Sierra Leone’s broader higher education reform agenda, with stakeholders expressing confidence that a well-designed central admissions system will improve access, transparency, and coordination across the tertiary sector.

Correspondent-Richard Williams

Ministry of Technical and Higher Education

Tel: +232 03086143