AYV News, January 30, 2025
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has debated the Bill entitled: ‘The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education Act, 2024’ and committed it the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.
The Bill seeks to continue in existence, the National Council for Technical, Vocational and other Academic Awards which is now to be known as the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education, to provide accreditation, validation, examination and certification services for awards in certain specialised and professional programmes in formal, non- formal and informal sectors and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill to Members of Parliament, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie recalled the establishment and purpose of the National Council for Technical and Vocational Awards (NCTVA) for the educational System. The Minister told Members of Parliament that the NCTVA has not significantly gained national and international requirements and assured that the Bill would address critical gaps to meet the contemporary needs of the of the people.
The minister highlighted key justifications in tandem with the object and importance of the Bill. According to her, the changes would lead to job creation, best practices, transformation and national and international requirements.
Chairman of Technical and Higher Education, Hon. Joseph Williams Lamin from Bo district said the Bill is a testament of patriotism and national interest. He made reference to issues relating to documentation and noted that the Bill would address the problems of the past.
“This is to strengthen Government Law” he informed and said it would improve on the manpower in tandem with transparency in certification. The MP assured the House that the Bill would eliminate institutions that undermine the standard of the society and improve on validation of documentation.
He spoke about the Clauses of the Bill, in light of penalties amongst others. He noted that the Bill is straightforward and appealed for it’s speedy passage into law.
The Whip of Opposition, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia recalled and explained why the NCTVA failed, making reference to the 6334 System of Education. He expressed dismay over the disconnection of bridges between NCTVA qualifications to enroll in Universities.
The MP underscored the importance of enrollment of people with NCTVA qualifications into Universities. He decried the authorities for limiting university entrance to only students with West African Senior Secondary School School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results to Universities. The MP decried the current state of the related institutions.
He appealed to the authority to give more financial support to institutions that are teaching Technical and Vocational Education and also improve on it’s infrastructure. “We need a special budget for Technical and Vocational Education” he said and went on to say those schools who are teaching Tech-Voc education be given special attention and support.
Hon. Umu Pyne described the Bill as powerful document. The MP said the Bill would improve on the Big 5 Game Changer and would promote girl’s education. She commended the Government for bringing such a Bill for passage into law.
Rounding up the debate, Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma categorically stated that the Bill is not controversial. The MP expressed dissatisfaction over the 6334 System of Education and went on to say the system never achieved it’s intended purposes.
He commended the Minister and team and raised some concerns over title, composition of administrative appointments, qualifications, terms of office, establishment of regional offices, standards, penalties amongst others.
He reflected on the past glory of Technical and infrastructure Vocational Education and the current dilapidated nature of related institutions and used the opportunity to appeal to the Minister to improve on them.
The Acting Leader urged the House to speedily pass the Bill into law.
Concluding the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the government priority predicates on education and underscored the distinct of the Bill with regards the structural transformation of Technical and Vocational Education. He alluded the benefits of the Bill, in light of human capacity development for middle level manpower to providing quality services.
The Leaders used the platform to assure Members of Parliament that, President Bio campaigned on education as priority and the government would continue to promote same. The Leader emphasized the importance of TVET and improvement. He noted that the Bill would enhance a system check. “If the middle level manpower is well capacitated and structure, the country would be transform into a paradise” he reaffirmed.
He comprehensively clarified several issues earlier raised by previous speakers including the establishment of regional offices, responsibilities, functions amongst others. He spoke about the necessity of curriculum development in tandem with global standard and transformation.
The Bill was committed to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.
