As part of the ongoing engagement by the European Union and the National Authorising Office (NAO) with the different government Ministries to discuss the new EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone Ambassador Manuel Muller and the Acting Head of Cooperation Holger Homen together with the NAO Director and his deputy, have met with the Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) Dr. Alpha Wurie and his team at the Minister’s conference room, New England to discuss on the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme ( MIP) that zeros in on technical and higher education.
The new EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme will focus on the following areas; Green Economy- including agriculture, energy, ecosystems and biodiversity, Human Development which includes basic education and technical and vocational education training (TVET) and social protection and Governance which includes just, inclusive and safe society including democratic institutions, voice and accountability, better government effectiveness and public service delivery and enhanced economic governance.
The meeting is the first of series of meetings with the sector ministries concern after the EU’s Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development at a meeting attended by Ministers from several sector ministries concerned that was held last week at the NAO Conference room Tower Hill.
MIP will guide the European Union and Government of Sierra Leone development cooperation for the next seven years.
The Acting Head of Cooperation at the EU, Holger Homen said the meeting was to do a brief presentation on how Technical and Higher Education is addressed in the MIP and to also get an update from the Ministry on their plans concerning technical and higher education, related actions currently outlined for implementation by the Ministry and how they relate to MIP.
Holger Homen, said President Bio’s Quality Education flagship programme dovetails with one of the areas in the new EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027. He said this priority areas are human development that helps to bridge the qualification gap of youths to succeed on the job market, quality education and protection against adverse life events.
He said the specific objectives that are related to this priority area are to contribute to improving the literacy, numeracy, skills and economic productivity of the population.
Holger further said the expected results from this objective could be, improved access, attendance and retention, completion and learning outcomes of inclusive and equitable quality early childhood, primary and secondary education. Strengthened TVET to better match human capital to the labour market and enhance employability, increase efficiency, effectiveness and resilience of education system to provide quality education.
Updating the EU and outlining the Ministry’s priority areas that needs attention under the new EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027 support to Sierra Leone, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Alpha Wurie said the Ministry has put together series of legislations to help encourage students who are planning to further their studies in technical and vocational areas.
Dr. Wurie further mentioned areas the Ministry would want intervention under the MIP programme such as; animal husbandry, mining sector, fisheries and fish production, diagnostic test facilities, hospitality and improvement in the ICT infrastructure.
He said presently there are ten technical institutions in the country and government is planning to have six more so there will be one in each district.
The Minister ended up by encouraging the EU to help build the capacity of the Ministry, the expansion of outreach of technical and vocational institutions, standardising the modus operandi of all technical and vocational institutions in the country.
NAO Director Ambrose James said the main essence of the meeting was for the Ministry to make the EU understand what the Ministry is doing in relation to the MIP and what are the challenges in achieving MIP priority areas and objectives.
In attendance were Permanent Secretary, and heads of the various department and programmes in the Ministry.
At the National Authorising Office we continue to facilitate GOSL- EU development projects for the benefit of Sierra Leonean Citizens
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