JAMB Pledges Support For Sierra Leone’s Proposed Centralised Admissions System
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has reaffirmed its commitment to support the Government of Sierra Leone in establishing a transparent, efficient, and technology-driven Centralized Admissions System (CAS) for tertiary institutions across the country.
JAMB Spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Benjamin said the assurance was given during a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Freetown, as part of ongoing efforts to reform the nation’s higher education admissions process.
The engagement followed an earlier visit by a Sierra Leonean delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, to Nigeria, where they observed the operations of Nigeria’s centralized admissions model during JAMB’s Annual Policy Meeting. Following the visit, Nigeria’s Minister of Education approved a technical mission by JAMB to Sierra Leone to share practical experiences and implementation strategies.
In her address, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Wurie, disclosed that the proposed Centralized Admissions System had received Cabinet approval and was backed by the Universities Act of 2021. She explained that the reform would address inefficiencies associated with the current decentralized admissions process and provide a unified digital platform for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Dr. Wurie emphasized that the initiative was being implemented through collaboration with key national stakeholders, including the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the National Telecommunications Authority (NATCA), the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and other technology partners.
She explained that Sierra Leone’s objective was not to replicate another country’s model but to adapt proven global best practices to its unique educational environment.
She therefore thanked her counterpart, the Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa for the tremendous support to Sierra Leone as she stated that the establishment of the Centralized Admissions System would restructure the admissions process in the country.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara described the reform as a major step towards transparency, accountability, efficiency, and fairness in higher education admissions. He disclosed that Cabinet had approved the establishment 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 Government of Sierra Leone for its inclusive and consultative approach to the reform. He noted that Nigeria established its centralized admissions system in 1978 to address challenges similar to those currently confronting Sierra Leone and assured stakeholders of JAMB’s continued technical support throughout the implementation process.
Prof. Oloyede stressed that the goal was 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.
The Nigerian delegation included the Chairman of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), Prof. Wahab Egbewole; JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin; Deputy Director of Operations, Mr. Ashura Abdullahi; Data Analyst, Mr. Oluwaseyi Bada; and Social Media Content Provider, Mr. Prince Kalu.
