17th July. 2025, The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has held a productive consultative meeting with the Union of Academic Staff Association (UASA) to address critical issues surrounding the welfare and conditions of service for academic staff in public tertiary institutions across Sierra Leone.

During the engagement, UASA representatives raised several pressing concerns, including delayed academic staff promotions, outstanding salary backlogs owed to universities, and the disbursement of severance benefits and ex-gratia payments to retirees. While acknowledging progress made by the Government in tackling some of these longstanding issues, UASA emphasized the need for further tangible action to fully restore the morale and confidence of academic staff.

In her response, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, recognized the legitimacy of the concerns presented and reaffirmed Government’s unwavering commitment to resolving them. She noted that MTHE is actively collaborating with key government institutions, including the Office of the Chief Minister and the Ministry of Finance, to ensure that the appropriate interventions are prioritized and delivered effectively.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both MTHE and UASA reaffirming their shared commitment to ongoing dialogue, mutual collaboration, and the collective goal of strengthening the higher education sector. The Ministry remains dedicated to creating an enabling environment that supports the professional growth and well-being of academic staff, ultimately contributing to the delivery of quality education in Sierra Leone.