By Kadiatu Bash Kamara
The need to protect the quality and integrity of education in Sierra Leone took centre stage on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, during a Special Edition Civic Town Hall held at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown. Hosted by Chernor Bah,minister of information and civic education.the programme featured the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Hon. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, as keynote speaker. The discussion focused on the topic, “How Do We Address the Threats to Quality Education in Sierra Leone?”, with particular attention to examination malpractice, institutional accountability, the use of technology and the verification of academic qualifications.
Minister Wurie stressed the importance of strengthening internal controls within institutions of higher learning to safeguard the credibility of Sierra Leone’s education system. Drawing from her experience as a lecturer, Head of Department and Dean at a university, she said she had firsthand knowledge of some of the challenges confronting higher education institutions. She emphasised that institutions have policies and punitive measures for dealing with misconduct, but stronger implementation and accountability are needed to ensure that academic standards are maintained.
The Minister described examination malpractice as a serious threat that must not be allowed to become normal in society. She said students in higher education institutions are future professionals and leaders, and allowing academic dishonesty to thrive could encourage them to carry similar practices into their professional lives. Reflecting on her years as a lecturer, she said she maintained a zero-tolerance approach to examination malpractice and urged institutions to adopt similar standards. She stressed that breaking the cycle of examination malpractice requires changing attitudes and making students understand the long-term consequences of academic dishonesty.
To address the challenge, Minister Wurie advocated for greater use of digital technology in examination administration. She explained that technology could minimise human interference while improving efficiency, transparency and accountability. She cited plans and ongoing pilot initiatives involving multifunctional ICT facilities where students could take examinations electronically. Through randomised question banks, candidates could receive different sets of questions, making it more difficult to collaborate or cheat. She also highlighted the potential use of Artificial Intelligence to mark multiple-choice and short-answer questions, while allowing lecturers and heads of departments to conduct quality checks.
The Minister also addressed concerns surrounding fake degrees and the need for stronger verification of academic qualifications. She said the relevant authorities must ensure that certificates presented by graduates are authentic and that individuals who choose to obtain or use fraudulent qualifications understand that such practices will not be tolerated. She noted that qualification verification processes are important for protecting the credibility of higher education institutions and ensuring that people entering professional and leadership positions possess genuine academic credentials.
Minister Wurie concluded that protecting quality education requires collective responsibility, stronger institutional controls and the strategic use of technology. She warned that Sierra Leone cannot afford to compromise academic standards at a time when graduates are preparing to take up important professional and leadership responsibilities. She therefore called for sustained efforts to prevent examination malpractice, strengthen qualification verification and embrace digital solutions that can make the education system more transparent, accountable and credible.
