By Ibraheem Daramy
When Haja Ramatulai Wurie got the nod to serve as Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), I immediately jumped for joy. The upbringing I had left me with such preferences for women. But with most of her actions so far, I am beginning to think maybe, just maybe, my celebrations were rather premature.
Her first major call after taking office came when she altered the Student Grant-in-Aid (SLG) scheme. This funding covered tuition and stipends for students in approved public tertiary institutions. As of early 2024, the programme was phased out and replaced with slots for female students in STEM, persons with disabilities and children of teachers. Let us, for now, avoid the question of how much these three (3) categories have benefited.
Grant-in-Aid simply refers to financial assistance provided by governments, institutions or private bodies to help cover educational costs. The concept dates back to nineteenth-century Britain. In 1833, the British government introduced Grant-in-Aid to support schools run by religious and charitable organisations that could not adequately cater for teachers and infrastructure. Even though the government provided the funding, the institutions retained their autonomy. Following independence, many countries adopted the model, Sierra Leone included.
As personal as this issue is to me, its impact on society is immeasurable. I have a long list of family members and associates who, barring a monumental miracle, would never have queued up for any form of tertiary certification. Is it not ironic that an administration which rose to power on the promise of human capital development would throw its principal beneficiaries under the bus?
Perhaps the Minister’s apparent indifference to the issue stems from the fact that she was born into wealth. But, please, ma’am, reinstate this scheme. It carries its own political implications. Mark my words, the issue will feature prominently in the opposition’s promises in the next electoral cycle. I am sure you would not want to be singled out as the Minister whose policies helped cede power to the opposition.
Since the appointment of Professor Philip John Kanu as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), he has been subjected to seventeen (17) investigations. Yes, seventeen. Thankfully, all previous reports cleared him. He became such a regular at Integrity House that I jokingly asked myself whether he was seeking employment at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
He is currently serving a suspension over alleged recruitment irregularities. I do not wish to be prejudicial, but trust me, the rendezvous point is unlikely to change. While we await the fate of the suspended VC/P, please use your good offices to restore decorum in our public universities. Except it pleases His Excellency the President, these individuals will remain in their positions, even if some among them harbour ambitions for yours.
Beyond the Grant-in-Aid issue, it does not appear that the Minister is in for a smooth ride, considering her run-ins with the University of Sierra Leone (USL). Indeed, it seems the university administration is determined to ensure that her head does not miss out on the menu.
As I write, five (5) documents from Mount Aureol sit right in front of me. Some contain chronological details of Haja Ramatulai Wurie’s relationship with the university. I must confess that, were I in her position, these are moments that would call for some self-recrimination. A period of honest self-reflection might reveal certain indiscretions.
I do not know what the end game of the University of Sierra Leone is, but one thing is abundantly clear: they are unwilling to countenance any decision that does not tick all the boxes. I see people ready to roll up their sleeves and run their socks off. And I am beginning to sense the powers of the President’s principal assistant in that ministry diminishing. For an institution over which she exercises exclusive oversight authority to display such audacity, it appears to amount to nothing short of a vote of no confidence.
Her counterpart at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Conrad Sackey, has managed to discipline some school leaders for various offences with relative ease. I can assure you that this is largely because there has been little room for malice and, most importantly, because due diligence has been followed to the letter.
Whether one agrees with the Minister or not, one thing is certain: the challenges confronting her are mounting. And if they are not approached with tact, diligence and political wisdom, they may ultimately define her tenure more than the promises and expectations that accompanied her appointment.
#DaramyIbraheem
