By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
A passionate debate unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, as Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (Hon. AKK) addressed the persistent challenges facing technical and vocational education in Sierra Leone. While debating the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education Act 2024, Hon. AKK underscored the systemic barriers preventing students in technical and vocational tracks from progressing to tertiary education, hindering national development in technical skills.
He expressed deep concern over the disconnect between Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) institutions and universities. Despite excelling in fields like construction, engineering, and plumbing, many technical students face roadblocks in advancing to universities due to rigid West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) requirements.
“What is the use of National Council for Technical, Vocational, and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA) qualifications if universities do not recognize them?” he questioned, advocating for alternative pathways that accept NCTVA qualifications for university entry.
Hon. AKK lamented the decline in technical and vocational training at the secondary level. Schools that once specialized in technical education, such as Government Rokel Secondary School, Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood, and Government Model Secondary School, have shifted to traditional academic curriculums due to a lack of incentives, recognition, and opportunities for technical students in higher education.
“The system has failed to create pathways for these students,” he stated, calling for urgent reforms.
Highlighting inefficiencies in the system, he raised serious concerns about delays in issuing NCTVA certifications, with some students waiting up to five years for results. Such setbacks, he argued, undermine the credibility of technical education and discourage students from pursuing these fields.
Additionally, he criticized the poor funding and weak infrastructure of technical institutions.
“How can we expect credible results when these institutions lack basic resources to conduct exams and train students effectively?” he asked.
Hon. AKK also pointed to Sierra Leone’s increasing reliance on foreign labor for technical jobs, such as operating tractors and managing water systems, attributing this dependency to inadequate technical training for local youth.
“We bring foreigners to do basic technical work because our people are not trained. This is unacceptable for a country striving for self-reliance,” he affirmed.
To bridge the gap, Hon. AKK proposed the creation of a ‘bridge system’ that allows NCTVA-certified students to transition into universities, ensuring they are not marginalized and can pursue advanced technical qualifications.
He also emphasized the need for a separate budget allocation for technical education, noting that technical institutions require specialized equipment, machinery, and safety gear—resources beyond the scope of regular schooling.“We cannot treat technical education like normal schooling. It demands far more resources,” he argued, urging the government to prioritize funding for technical education to equip students with the skills necessary for national development.
