The Governance Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) have been consulting on the need to amend the 1989 Act establishing the National Commission on Higher Education. GC spearheaded the holding of a Policy Dialogue on Wednesday January 20, 2016 at the Bella Casa Hotel in Sinkor on the issue. The consultative meeting brought together heads of colleges and universities, representatives of the Legislature, the Ministry of Education, and others interested in (academia and) improving the education sector.
In his opening remarks, General of the Commission on Higher Education, noted the importance of technology in modern day higher education teaching and learning process, as well as research – for easy understanding of our world. Dr. Slawon observed that globally, emphasis are being placed on curriculum reform to cope with changing realities in higher education sector for the transfer of knowledge and the betterment of our world. He said there were numerous challenges facing the world and that if not timely addressed higher education may not make many differences in shifting behaviors through higher education and sustaining development.
According to Dr. Slawon, the March, 1989 Act creating the Higher education Commission can no longer be used to regulate, monitor, and evaluate the higher education sector responsible to provide capable human resource in relevant disciplines as required by Liberia’s transformation agenda. The 1989 Act does not address major challenges that have materialized in post conflict Liberia such as structure, man-power development needed to assure viability, international competition, and proliferation of institutions of higher learning among others.
The draft Act on the other hand though more concise and comprehensive still needs the input of the sector on regulatory, monitoring and evaluation of capacities that need strengthening to address current challenges. Dr. Slawon noted that the management and regulation of the sector are plagued with more challenges now than in 1989.According to statistics, in 1989, Liberia had a total of 5 institutions of higher learning to compare with 34 of today; three baccalaureate degree granting institutions and one Associate degree granting institutions to compare with 8 universities, 8-four year baccalaureate degree granting and 18 associate granting institutions in Liberia today.
The 2016 draft Act versus the 1989 Law
The 1989 Act establishing the National Commission on Higher Education lacks depth, and focuses more on membership, and a little on functions, authority, tenure, program, and quorum. Unlike the 1989 Act, the 2016 draft Act The 2016 Act is more comprehensive, and supports the development, regulatory, and support functions of the commission; ushers in an accreditation system that provides greater guidelines and directions to the system in a participatory manner; and improves adherence to academic norms, standardization of quality, research, and better programming.
Its objective is to establish a regulatory body and facilitate the development of a National Center for the Accreditation of all degree granting institutions in Liberia to guarantee the following:
Functions and Powers
The 2016 draft Act of the NCHE authorizes the Commission to formulate broad guidelines for the establishment of institutions of higher learning, and coordinate and serve as principalliaison between institutions of learning as at post- secondary level; monitor and evaluate all institutions of higher learning; ensure the establishment of institutional structure to be responsible to accredit all institutions of higher learning; approve new and existing programs for funding for national development; ensure financial ability of the institution to support quality education; review existing programs at higher education institutions, and establish priority programs of study based on national needs; develop minimum standards of quality including but not limited to criteria for awarding academic degrees, and the governance of these institutions; draw up qualification for both instructors and administrators; ensure that rules governing admission assure relevance of curriculum to meet national needs; and setting criteria for the evaluation of students and their progress towards graduation among others.
Organization and structure of the Commission
The 1989 Law calls for no less than and no more than 17 members to form part of the Commission. It also advocates two types of membership –permanent and non-permanent. The 2016 draft Act advocates two types of membership also but membership is limited to 15, and no less than 9. The President is expected to appoint all commissioners to the NCHE. The Director General of the Commission serves as Secretary of the NCHE. The 2016 draft Act also established the National Center for the accreditation of higher education institutions in Liberia as an autonomous institution.
Division of Planning, Research and Institutional Development
This division within the NCHE is responsible for the design of strategic plans for the sector, the collection of data to enable the monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the higher education sector, and being a repository for research conducted in the sector among others.
