Building a Legacy of Technical Education, Innovation, and National Development
The journey of the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone — from a small catechist training centre to a national university.
Bunumbu Teachers College Established
Bunumbu Teachers College was established in 1924 as a training centre for catechists and was later transformed into a teacher training college. It remained one of the only two tertiary institutions in the Eastern Region until May 1991, when it fell into the hands of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.
Bunumbu Teachers College Displaced in Kenema
The college was evacuated and, in October 1991, resumed operations as a displaced institution in Kenema on the campus of the Government Technical Institute — the other tertiary institution in the Eastern Region, founded in 1957. The two institutions co-existed on that campus from October 1991 until October 2001, when the Polytechnic Act was passed in Parliament.
The Inception of Eastern Polytechnic
Prior to attaining polytechnic status, the institution had departments and programmes for training teachers and craftsmen. The inception of Eastern Polytechnic in October 2001 necessitated the creation of new departments and the establishment of Faculties and Schools.
Transformation to Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone
On the 8th of July, 2021, “The University Act, 2021” was passed into law with unanimity, leading to the transformation of Eastern Polytechnic into the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone.