Monrovia – The Government of Liberia, through the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE), ordered the shutting down of six private universities operating illegally in the country, according to Mr. David S. Dahn, the Acting Director General of the NCHE.
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]
The NCHE said the universities or colleges have neither Operational Permit nor Provisional Accreditation from the Commission and have been offering faked degree programs.
Those universities and colleges ordered shut down with immediate effect include Dayspring Bible College, Grace International Bible University, Pilgrims College & School of Ministry, Liberia College of Nursing & Divinity, New Dimension Theological Seminary and the ASSFI University College.
The Acting Director of NCHE made the disclosure on Wednesday, June 27, at the headquarters of the NCHE on SD Cooper Road, Paynesville.
Amongst the six universities and colleges ordered shut down, the ASSFI University College had applied for tertiary operational permit and is under reviewed by the Quality Assurance Department.
“These institutions were written for conference for operating illegally in the country, some responded and others didn’t and after exhausting the necessary efforts, we deem it necessary and just to order them shutdown,” Prof. Dahn said.
“Appropriately, the Ministry of Justice will be informed to help effect the shutdown.”
“Let it be known that the NCHE has jailed the Presidents of bogus Universities who were operating illegally in the country, and offered Master Degree, within three months.”
The Director of Quality Assurance, Rev. J. Andrew Lablah told also journalists that five institutions have been issued Master Degree-Granting Permit including the University of Liberia, Cuttington University, Stella Maris Polytechnic, United Methodist University and the AME University.
He said Starz College of Technology has been elevated to Master Degree-Granting Institution but is currently undergoing it final review by the Quality Assurance to substantiate the Master Degree Granting Status.
Rev. Lablah furthered disclosed that there are 12 Bachelor Degrees Granting Institutions. They are; William V.S. Tubman University, AMEZU, Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, African Bible College University and the Liberia Assemblies of God Bible College.
Others are; the Monrovia Bible College, Adventist University of West Africa, Bong County Technical College, Bluecrust University College and Harbel College, Bushrod Technical Institute, and Smythe Institution of Management and Technology.
Rev. Lablah said the department of Quality Assurance is doing final review on Symthe Institute to substantiate its Bachelor Degree Granting Status.
“Only those institutions which are granted should offer the granted degrees, contrarily, institutions will be shut down and administrators be penalized.”
However, he said, only 17 institutions have Associate’s degree permit. They are Trinity Bible School, Jake Memorial Baptist College, Leigh-Sherman Community College, Christian Theological Seminary, Bomi County Community College, Baptist College of Missionary Physician Assistants, Grand Bassa Community College, and the Wesleyan College of Liberia.
Others are Vision International Christian College of Liberia, Liberia International Christian College, Lincoln College of Professional Studies, Nimba County Community College, Liberia Dujar Technical College, Free Pentecostal College, Grand Gedeh County Community College and Salvation Army Technical Institute.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director General of the NCHE said, in a very sooner time, they would begin collaborating with the Ministry of Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Board and Medical and Dental Council to close down Nursing or Nurse Aid Schools which are offering tertiary programs. Unconfirmed reports said over 47 nursing schools and nurse aid schools have been targeted to shut down in July.
“Any education program above secondary falls under the purview of the NCHE,” Prof Dahn said.
He also announced that beginning mid-July, a thorough inspection of permit granting institutions will be done, including instructors credential, curriculum as well as the renewal of permits.
“Granting permit institutions are to pay US$500 annually to the Liberia Revenue Authority, while renewal of permit is free of charge.”
Meanwhile, he further said the Acting Management NCHE has completed the policies on internal controls, finance and personnel in compliance to the Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC), Public Finance Management (PFM) laws and other relevant laws and regulations.
“The policies will be provided soon to the Board of Directors of NCHE headed by the Education Minister for review and approval.”
He said the intent is to undertake its contract awards, goods delivery, projects execution, evaluation and reporting in an effective and efficient manner as well as the preparation of documentation on procurement/projects.
The radical reforms of the NCHE followed the accusation of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) of which the NCHE didn’t establish anti-fraud internal controls to track performance of financial and administrative malpractices, which has led to deceit of over US$55k and L$2m during the administration of Dr. Michael Slawion.
According to the GAC’s report, the NCHE Management failed to maintain Fixed Assets Register/listing to provide detailed information, including cost of asset, date of purchase and coding.