Politico staff writer
Dr. Ali Fahad Almudhaf, the Kuwait Minister of Education, says his country is open to collaboration with Sierra Leone in the field of education, noting that ‘Sierra Leone had been a reliable friend to the State of Kuwait’. He said a team of experts would look into the Education Agreement to initiate action.
At a meeting with Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Almudhaf said his ‘ministry is willing to support Sierra Leone’s quest to develop its human capital, especially in professional training, students exchange programs. We provide grants for students through the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). The Ministry looks forward to your request”.
According to the press attaché at the Sierra Leone embassy in Kuwait, Cyril Barnes, Ambassador Haja Ishata Thomas thanked the government of Kuwait for its numerous supports to Sierra Leone, adding that the two countries have enjoyed fruitful relations for more than two decades, and as a result, the two countries have signed and ratified a number of bilateral agreements, including the Agreement on Culture and Arts.
She called the minister’s attention to the fact that the two countries have ratified the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Technical Education and Professional Training and that the said Agreement would provide, among others, exchange of training, education curriculum programs, studies and information related to Technical Education and Professional Training. She also spoke about the exchange of visits for the management and officials of Technical and Professional Training as well as experts, trainers and trainees of Technical Education and Professional Institutes.
She said: ‘given this great development, the Mission has requested officially the provision of scholarship opportunities for deserving Sierra Leoneans to study in various fields in Kuwait. Additionally, I am pleased to inform you that the Mission secured a UNESCO Islamic scholarship through the General Secretariat of the Kuwait National Commission for UNESCO for high school candidates for the 2021-2022 academic year. Although the Mission did not get the said scholarship due to delay in transmission, we are hopeful to identify prospective candidates in the ensuing years”.
Ambassador Ishata Thomas went on to explain Sierra Leone’s Free Quality Education program, revealing that it was born out of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision to develop the country's Human Capital. ‘Based on the development trajectory Sierra Leone has taken, I look forward to your collaboration to develop our educational sector, particularly training programs for teachers, lecturers and Imams, students exchange programs, more scholarship opportunities and learning materials”.
Copyright © Politico Online (05/11/21)
