After committal and presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Legislative Committee in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh, the Parliament of Sierra Leone has exhaustively debated and finally passed into law the Bill entitled: “The Sierra Leone Student Loan Scheme Fund Act, 2021”, with unanimity.

The passing of the bill into law was key in President Julius Maada Bio’s 2018 elections manifesto promises, seeking for the establishment of a student loan scheme fund to provide financial assistance to students in tertiary institutions as a way of increasing enrollment into higher education and to promote the right to education for Sierra Leoneans and to provide for other related matters.

In presenting a consensual report on behalf of the Legislative Committee in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh said the said Bill was scrutinized and certain amendments were made in respect of titling, definition, clauses, administration, numbering, offenses and penalties inclusive.

He emphasized that the report is a reflection of a unanimous view of MPs constituting the Legislative Committee in Parliament, chaired by Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh.

Prior to approval of the said Bill, additional scrutiny and amendments were done in Committee of the Whole House before passage into law.

The Bill was piloted by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie.