A delegation from the Government of India which includes the India High Commissioner to Sierra Leone has on Thursday 26th June 2025 held bilateral talks with the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs on Capacity Building and Technical Support on the development of a plan of action on the Transformation of the Civil Service Training College (CSTC) to the Public Service Academy (PSA).
The talks which were held at the Conference Hall of MoPAPA brought to light discussions on what Sierra Leone stands to benefit on tech-education, short term courses on capacity building, in line with other relevant study programs in India. The discussions were exclusively on education and human resource development, dubbed; “Education Initiatives in Technology Enabled Solutions & IT resource augmentation.”
Hon. Minister MoPAPA, Amara Kallon in his welcome statements underscored the governance commitments of His Excellency (HE) President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and noting that one of such commitments has to do with the transition of the Civil Service Training College (CSTC) into the Public Service Academy. Hon. Minister Kallon explained that such transition remains one of the key deliverables of government, with having accountable reform that encompasses specifics of the civil service which is just a sector of the public service and stating also the development of a curriculum fit for purpose in accordance with international best practices.
The Hon. Minister stressed on the need for a tight collaboration with India and disclosing that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be sign with the India High Commission and by extension, the India Commission is to make available a proposal (for technical support) for the establishment of training institutions and developing core curriculum in line with providing technical assistance for the transition of CSTC to the Public Service Academy, adding; such is to be achieved only when concrete agreement is in place.
B.C. Pradhan who is the Commissioner of India, underscored the relevance of the meeting with MoPAPA, disclosing that preparation for such a meeting has been ongoing for months, awaiting representatives of EdCIL which is a comprehensive education project under the administrative control of India’s Ministry of Education (MOE) – providing amongst others, consultancy education services and human resource development.
Commissioner Pradhan acknowledged MoPAPA’s integral mandate of reforming the public service of Sierra Leone and thus noting the paramount need for such a meeting – bent on improving the human resource of civil servant and assuring India’s bilateral commitments in making available the enabling environment for such to be actualized.
Dr. B. Chandrasekar – the Executive Director (Corporate Planning) for EdCIL (India) Limited enlightened that EdCIL is concerned with digital education initiatives; education infrastructure and procurement services; online testing and assessment services and providing the enabling environment for study programs in India.
Dr. Chandrasekar furthered by outlining possible areas of collaboration with Sierra Leone which include: establishment of centers of excellence in priority sectors; technical support for Smart SL implementation; faculty and study exchange programs between Sierra Leone and India, amongst others.
MoPAPA Communications
+232 78 155260 / +232 76 737048
