Sierra Leone: SPU Schools Tertiary Institutions on Performance Contracts
Jonathan & Esther Resort, Koribondo Road, Bo City, May 9th 2013/– A three day performance contracts development workshop for tertiary institutions has ended on Saturday 11 May, 2013 at the Jonathan & Esther Resort, along Koribondo Road, Bo.
Abdul Rahaman Sowa Director of Operation OCOS
director SPU Victor Strasser-King
Organized by the Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU), Office of Chief of Staff, the performance contracts development seminar brought together, Vice and Pro-chancellors, finance administrators and registrars, from constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone, Njala University, Milton Margai College of Education & Technology, Northern and Eastern Polytechnics, Port Loko and Freetown Teachers’ Colleges, among others.
In his opening remarks, the Director of SPU Professor Victor Strasser-King said students pay their fees and are therefore entitled to regular lectures and that lecturers are not doing favours to students as they are clients of their various tertiary institutions.
He therefore reminded them of their obligations which are to deliver their required services to students as expected.
Professor Strasser-King recalled that government introduced performance contracts in 2008, when ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) signed their contracts, and was successfully cascaded to tertiary institutions all across the country.
He described the process as a tool for development and for tracking the performance of workers, reiterating that State House does not impose the signing of performance contracts on any tertiary institution.
SPU Director disclosed that the signing of performance contracts were pre-negotiated even before the workshop was proposed, saying that the seminar will be also looking at service delivery and managerial indicators.
Professor Strasser-King recalled that when the performance contracts were signed last year between vice chancellors of tertiary institutions in the country, and the President, it was clearly indicated that if it fails, heads of the institutions will be held accountable.
He therefore noted that the deputy vice chancellors will also sign this year’s performance contracts and will be accountable for their stewardship as well.
In an interview with the State House Communications Unit, the Director of (SPU), Professor Victor Strasser-King said the workshop is the only meeting that brings together heads of tertiary institutions so as to know what they are doing at institutional levels.
He said the discussions will enable government to appraise the works of tertiary institutions, in terms of management and the development of programmes for the fostering of greater accountability.
Professor Strasser-King further disclosed that the workshop will also enable government to have a better understanding of challenges faced by tertiary institutions, so that such problems can be addressed through concerted efforts of both government and the institutions themselves, for better service delivery.
The SPU Director said the outcome of the workshop should foster greater confidence among students and their parents in the services of tertiary institutions. He said the discussion about performance management, which is the prime objective of the workshop, is geared towards a more robust service delivery.
The Executive Secretary Tertiary Education Commission, Professor David Koroma said his commission is an independent body under the Presidency, thus encouraged heads of tertiary institutions to give account of their various leadership roles in order to enable the public to know what they have been doing.
Professor Koroma said when a staff is being employed by a university, that person has entered into a contract with the given tertiary institution.
The Presidential Advisor on Education, Dr. Sheku Kamara underscored the relevance of performance management system, saying it has to do with transparency, productivity, accountability and the harmonization of courses and lecture conditions in all tertiary institutions.
Dr. Kamara said much as students have the responsibilities to learn, at the same time schools, departments and faculties have the task of providing the necessary materials to enhance learning.
He described educational standards at Fourah Bay College USL, as not impressive, while acknowledging strides made by Njala University, pointing out that it is unacceptable for students to take exams and could not see their grades until after six months.
The Education Advisor to President Koroma therefore urged that lecturers should present or publish examination grades on time so that if there is any problem, then the lecturer of the given course should report to the department/school/faculty for redress.
Presentations made by the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology and Eastern Polytechnic, highlighted challenges in the areas of rehabilitation, curriculum development, training of staff, including other aspects of educational administration, while showcasing progress made so far by the two tertiary institutions.
The Principal MMCET, Dr. Dennis Kargbo frowned at the unscrupulous manner in which the college’s land had been encroached on, which he said has culminated into the rapid construction of houses close to lecture halls.
Dr. Kargbo said what his institution collect as fees are used to run the college due to the late allocation of subventions; “for the running of the institution, we rely mostly on fees we collect”.
In a presentation by the Freetown Teachers’ College, challenges such as limited infrastructural facilities, lack of residential hostels for students, not to talk of quarters for lecturers, the absence of a perimeter fence, lack of a laboratory and limited educational materials were highlighted.
Like MMCET, it was also revealed that squatters have encroached largely on the FTC land, and a presentation was also made by the Port Loko Teachers’ College highlighting the institution’s highs and lows. From State House Communications Unit
