Government has begun credential verification exercises of lecturers and staffers of accredited universities and colleges in the country but it unknown same is extended to private institutions.
It said the intent of the project was to ascertain the fact that those lecturing at tertiary education levels are qualified and up to the task.
The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE’s) Director General, Edward Lama Wonkeryor, told the media briefing yesterday in Monrovia that the exercise had already began at the Commission and it will be extended to other public facilities of learning.
He stated, among many things, that the verification of lecturers and instructors, as well as staffers of tertiary schools’ credential is to weed out the quacks from the system for the better obtainment or earning of quality education.
Wonkeryor however did not state when the exercise started and when it will be concluded but said, it is a delicate project which shall take some time before conclusion and needs not to be rushed with.
He indicated that there are 24 associates, 21 bachelors and nine master degrees granting universities and colleges that are both state and privately owned accredited by the Commission and involved in the exercise.
Wonkeryor said the pressure to elevate the Commission to a ministry status is to reduce the challenges and responsibilities off the shoulders of the Education Ministry which supervises primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary level.
He opined that such workload is huge and challenging for a single ministry to carry in a country with a growing population, most of whom are young people completing secondary schools annually.
“Education Ministry is overwhelmed with problems as it manages from primary to secondary and tertiary education level. Therefore, there is a need to have a Ministry of Higher Education and Technical Education cannot be overemphasized,” Wonkeryor noted.
He also said there are challenges ranging from shortage of logistics like vehicles, equipment, manpower, and human development of about 29 employees including staff internally.
In spite of the few employees with the budget allocation of US$358,000, Wonkeryor wants more support so as to get commission carry out of its assignment which it has not been fulfilling as it should be.
The National Commission on Higher Education was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1989 to formulate broad policy guidelines for the establishment of Institutions of Higher Education in Liberia.
It serves as the regulatory body for all Institutions offering degrees, and coordinates and serves as the commission and in furtherance of its objectives is to develop and or prescribe conditions under which all higher education institutions (public, private, and faith based) in the country can be opened, accredited and operated.
To formulate in collaboration with existing institutions policy guidelines for the establishment of new programs or higher education institutions in the country; and advice the government on the granting of charters for the creation of institutions that would award degrees in the public, private and faith based sectors.
Also, the commission supports the development and implementation of training programs, symposium, workshops, and or dialogues designed by institutions within the sector to enhance national development; and promote formal linkages among all institutions within the sector to facilitate most effective use of the experiences, equipment, expertize and encourage international linkages to enhance collaboration in research and knowledge sharing.
Furthermore, it serves as the principal liaison between higher education institutions and the Government of Liberia including recommending higher education institutions or programs of higher education for funding.
It work with agencies of government, faith based institutions and the private sector to compile data on manpower needs of the country that would enable higher education institutions design programs and guide the academic choices of their students.
