By Hajaratu S. Bangura
The Government of Sierra Leone has approved a unified academic calendar for all accredited universities and higher education institutions in a move aimed at promoting predictability, accountability and efficiency within the country’s tertiary education sector.
The announcement was made by Minister Chernor Bah during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing held at the Miatta Civic Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
According to the minister, the new policy will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic year and will require all universities and accredited tertiary institutions to operate within the same academic timeframe.
Under the approved structure, all teaching and examinations across the country must conclude by July 31 each year, while August and September will serve as a transition and institutional planning period. The new academic year will officially commence nationwide in October.
He also mentioned that the initiative is intended to address long-standing inconsistencies in academic schedules among institutions and improve coordination across the higher education system.
“Now, the government through the Ministry of Technical Education established the calendar and these institutions are all supposed to stick within the calendar,” he stated.
The policy is expected to benefit students, parents, lecturers and administrators by ensuring a more organized academic system. Education stakeholders have often raised concerns about varying university calendars, which have affected graduation timelines, admissions and examination schedules.
Minister Bah noted that the standardized calendar forms part of broader reforms within the education sector aimed at improving planning and accountability.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency by publicly sharing Cabinet-level decisions with citizens.
“Thanks to President Bio, we are committed to open governance and setting a high standard for continuous communication with the public,” he said.
This unified calendar will create greater stability within the higher education sector while enabling institutions to better manage academic activities and long-term planning.
