The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education has secured 12 scholarships from the Government of Algeria for Sierra Leonean students, in a renewed drive to expand international educational opportunities.

The development was confirmed during a courtesy visit by the Algerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Hachem Abdelhafid, to the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, at her office in Freetown. The package includes 10 undergraduate scholarships and two vocational training placements.

Welcoming the Algerian delegation, Dr. Wurie described the offer as a timely boost to the Government of Sierra Leone’s Human Capital Development (HCD) agenda, stressing that such opportunities strengthen academic and cultural exchange. She assured that her ministry will ensure a transparent nomination process.

Ambassador Abdelhafid explained that the Algerian scholarship programme, which was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being revived following the establishment of Algeria’s embassy in Freetown four months ago. Fields of study available include science, technology, medicine, mathematics, architecture, and other disciplines.

The ambassador requested the Ministry to nominate at least 15 candidates, from which the 12 final recipients will be chosen based on academic merit. While most courses are taught in English, some require French; for these, Algeria will provide free French language courses lasting between six months and a year.

Responding to the Minister’s inquiry, Ambassador Abdelhafid confirmed that Algerian universities are generally accessible to students with disabilities, provided they meet the academic requirements.

Dr. Wurie thanked the Algerian Government for its swift engagement and expressed interest in forging long-term academic partnerships, including staff exchanges, joint research, and institutional collaborations between Sierra Leonean and Algerian institutions.