By Amadu Wurie Timbo
Graduates of the School of Clinical Sciences in Makeni have raised concerns over delays in receiving their certificates and uncertainty surrounding the recognition of their Clinical Medicine qualifications.
The institution, established in 2017, was created to train healthcare professionals who could help address Sierra Leone’s shortage of medical personnel. Over the years, students have completed their academic studies, clinical rotations and examinations, with several cohorts graduating from the programme.
Mariatu Munu, a Clinical Officer in Pediatrics, said graduates are still waiting to receive their certificates despite completing their programmes and participating in a graduation ceremony in December 2025. She said the delay is affecting their ability to secure employment and pursue further professional opportunities.
“We are also concerned about reports of a change in the programme’s designation from Clinical Medicine to Clinical Sciences. We were enrolled and trained under Clinical Medicine. We are seeking clarification on the exact qualification and professional title now being accorded to us, as well as how the qualification will be recognised by employers and relevant regulatory bodies,” CO Munu said.
The situation has become a growing concern among graduates, particularly as Sierra Leone continues to face shortages of healthcare professionals, while some trained graduates remain unemployed or work under voluntary or temporary arrangements.
Graduates and their families are therefore calling on the relevant authorities including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, University of Sierra Leone, School of Clinical Sciences, Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Council, and Parliament to provide clear information on the matter.
They are seeking clarification on the status and issuance of their certificates, formal recognition of their qualifications, their appropriate professional designation, and a clear pathway into employment and professional practice.
For many of the affected graduates, the issue goes beyond receiving certificates. It represents years of education, financial sacrifice and professional training, as well as their desire to contribute meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system.
They are now calling for timely clarification and action from the relevant authorities to resolve the uncertainty surrounding their qualifications and professional future.