By Josephine W. Lagawo
FREETOWN, July 14 (SALONE TIMES) – Members of Parliament last Thursday July 8 enacted the Universities Act 2021.
Presenting the bill to members of parliament, the Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education Prof, Alpha Tejan Wurie said the new act will replace the 2005 act.
He noted that Sierra Leone is one of the few countries in the world that can boast of tertiary education for over 100 years.
Prof Wurie highlighted the reason for enacting this act which among other things will no longer see the President as the Chancellor of the Universities of Sierra Leone, it will also transform the Milton Margai College of Education to Technical University and the Eastern Polythenic which has been operating for over twenty years will also sbe upgraded into university status.
Chairman for Higher Tertiary Education in Parliament Hon Mohamed Lansana said that the bill is not controversial.
Hon Abdul Kargbo said he is one of the happiest Members of Parliament because of the transformation of Milton Margai College of Education to university which according to him is a laudable one.
Hon Catherine Zainab Tarawally said she is a product of Milton Margai and that she is pleading to the minister so they can have several universities in the regions.
Hon Francis Amara Kaisamba said it is a big day for his constituency and the people of Kenema district as Eastern Polyethnic has been transformed to university.
Hon Dr. Yumkella in his contribution said they need specialization in to this university, adding that they need to de-politicized the universities and hand over the chancellorship to the academics.
He said that they want academic excellence and they need more PHDs to lecture in these universities. Hon Chernor Bah said they in the opposition will support this bill because it does not come with a Memorandum of object
