The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) says it is conducting a stringent inspection of tertiary schools across the country that will see the closure of institutions falling short of the required standard.
Speaking recently at the Ministry of Information in Monrovia, the Executive of Director of NCHE Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor said over the coming weeks, trained evaluators and experts will continue to visit institutions across the country to assess key areas, including academic programs, governance structures, infrastructure, financial management, and the overall learning environment.
He said the objectives of the exercise are to identify strengths and gaps, celebrate the achievements and innovations that institutions have accomplished, pinpoint areas that require immediate intervention or sustained support, promote transparency and accountability and ensure that stakeholders, students, parents, educators, and policy-makers are aware of the current state of higher education in Liberia.
He said at the conclusion of this exercise, the findings will serve as the foundation for strategic actions aimed at improving quality, addressing deficiencies, and realigning higher learning institutions with national and global standards.
Fundamentally, he said institutions that fall short of the required NCHE’s standards to operate as a higher education institution will be shut down.
“I want to assure the nation that this process is being conducted with the utmost fairness, professionalism, and objectivity. We are not embarking on this exercise to criticize or condemn, rather to collaborate and uplift” he said.
Dr. Wonkeryor said quality assurance is a shared responsibility and wants all institutions to approach the exercise with openness and a genuine desire for growth.
He said this effort is in alignment with the broader vision of the ARREST Agenda of government to position Liberia as a hub for academic excellence in the region.
According to him, by investing in quality education, “we are investing in the human capital that will drive our economic, social and political transformation.”
“To our institutions, I urge you to see this as an opportunity to showcase your strengths and to embrace the recommendations that will follow as tools for improvement,” he said.
By Lucky M. McGee
