Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Government of Algeria has announced the provision of 12 fully funded scholarships to Sierra Leonean students, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Sierra Leone’s human capital development drive.
The commitment was revealed during a courtesy visit by the Algerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Hachem Abdelhafid, to the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie.
The visit, held in Freetown, notably marked a significant step in Algeria’s renewed educational cooperation with Sierra Leone.
According to Ambassador Abdelhafid, the scholarships comprising 10 for undergraduate university studies, and 2 for vocational training, are part of Algeria’s effort to revive its scholarship program for Sierra Leonean students, which had been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Algerian diplomat noted that the Embassy in Freetown only became operational four months ago, and the resumption of scholarships reflects the Algerian government’s intent to deepen academic and cultural engagement with Sierra Leone.
To ensure a transparent selection process, Ambassador Abdelhafid requested that the Ministry nominate at least 15 qualified candidates, from which 12 would be chosen based on academic merit and other established criteria.
He also presented a detailed list of available fields of study, which include science, technology, medicine, mathematics, and architecture, among others.
While most courses are offered in English, some programs will require proficiency in French. To address this, Algeria is providing free French language training lasting six months to one year for selected students.
In her remarks, Dr. Wurie welcomed the Ambassador and commended the offer, describing it as a timely opportunity that aligns with Sierra Leone’s national focus on education and skills development under the Human Capital Development agenda.
She emphasized the importance of international academic cooperation and expressed the Ministry’s full commitment to facilitating the scholarship process.
Responding to inquiries about inclusivity, Ambassador Abdelhafid confirmed that Algerian universities are generally accessible to students with disabilities, provided academic requirements are met.
The meeting also explored the possibility of expanding bilateral academic ties through future collaborations such as faculty exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and institutional linkages between universities and vocational training centers in both countries.
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is expected to begin the nomination process in the coming weeks, offering Sierra Leonean students a renewed pathway to higher education and technical skills training in Algeria.
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