Dare Babalola
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has pledged technical support to the Government of Sierra Leone as the West African nation moves to establish a centralised admissions system for tertiary institutions aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and accountability.
The commitment was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, following a high-level stakeholder engagement organised by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) in Freetown.
According to the statement, the engagement formed part of ongoing efforts by the Sierra Leonean government to reform its higher education admissions process through the introduction of a Centralized Admissions System (CAS).
The initiative followed a recent study visit by a Sierra Leonean delegation led by the country’s Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, to Nigeria, where officials observed the operations of Nigeria’s centralised admissions framework during JAMB’s Annual Policy Meeting.
Benjamin said the visit prompted Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, to approve a technical mission by JAMB to Sierra Leone to share practical experiences and implementation strategies.
Speaking during the stakeholder engagement at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, revealed that the proposed Centralized Admissions System had already secured Cabinet approval and was backed by the country’s Universities Act of 2021.
She explained that the reform was designed to eliminate inefficiencies associated with the existing decentralised admissions process and provide a unified digital platform for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
According to her, the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Tertiary Education Commission, the West African Examinations Council, the National Civil Registration Authority, the National Telecommunications Authority, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and other technology partners.
“Sierra Leone’s objective is not to replicate another country’s model but to adapt proven global best practices to its unique educational environment,” Wurie said.
She also expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s Minister of Education for supporting the reform initiative.
“The establishment of the Centralized Admissions System will restructure the admissions process in Sierra Leone and enhance efficiency across the sector,” she added.
Also speaking, Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara described the initiative as a significant milestone in the drive to promote fairness and transparency in higher education admissions.
“This reform represents a major step towards transparency, accountability, efficiency and fairness in higher education admissions,” Aziz-Kamara said.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone’s Cabinet had approved the creation of a Centralized Admissions Secretariat within the ministry to oversee admissions through a unified digital platform.
A major highlight of the engagement was JAMB’s presentation of a comprehensive framework for establishing a national digital admissions architecture capable of enhancing transparency, eliminating duplication, improving data integrity and strengthening educational planning.
Addressing stakeholders, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, commended the Sierra Leonean government for adopting an inclusive and consultative approach to the reform process.
“Nigeria established its centralized admissions system in 1978 to address challenges similar to those currently confronting Sierra Leone,” Oloyede said.
He assured the government and stakeholders of JAMB’s continued technical assistance throughout the implementation process.
“The goal is not to export the Nigerian model wholesale but to support Sierra Leone in developing a system suited to its national realities while benefiting from decades of practical experience in admissions administration,” he stated.
The stakeholder meeting attracted senior government officials, university administrators, regulators and education sector leaders from across Sierra Leone, reflecting broad national support for the proposed admissions reform.
The Nigerian delegation included Chairman of the Association of West African Universities, Prof. Wahab Egbewole; JAMB Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin; Deputy Director of Operations, Ashura Abdullahi; Data Analyst, Oluwaseyi Bada; and Social Media Content Provider, Prince Kalu.
Benjamin noted that the visit marked another milestone in educational cooperation between Nigeria and Sierra Leone and underscored both countries’ commitment to expanding access to quality higher education through innovation, transparency and institutional collaboration.
