Liberia: Education Minister Suspends Higher Education Policy
By: Jeremiah Sackie Cooper/ jeremiahcooper105@gmail.com
Liberia-February 20, 2023: Days after the latest regulation of the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) which restrates non doctorate degree holders to head higher institution of learning in the country, Liberia’s Minister of Education, Prof. D. Ansu Sonii has will immediate effect suspended the National Commission for Higher Education policy.
According to Minister Sonii, the action to suspend the NCHE policy is intended to do the right thing for the betterment of the education system of Liberia.
He noted that the National Commission for Higher Education previously accredited universities and colleges with non doctorate degree holders as President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, therefore calling on them to resign their post undermines the judgement of NCHE at that time.
Education Minister Sonii also noted that the suspension of the policy does not in anyway give room for unqualified individuals to occupy position that they can not perform but to ensure that the right thing is done.
He asserted that it is important that institutions of higher learning having non doctorate degree holders as President and Vice President for Academic Affairs be invited before the implementation of the policy, noting that this will protect the peaceful and smooth co-existence between the Ministry of Education and institutions of higher learning in Liberia.
Minister Sonii at the same time disclosed that there are limited number of Doctorate degree holders in Liberia, something he said would stop the full implementation of the NCHE policy.
The Education Minister statement comes in the wake of intense pressure on institutions without doctorate degree holders as head, which violates the NCHE policy.
“This is to inform all heads of higher education institutions in Liberia that one of overarching policy expectation of the NCHE is that all President and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VAPP’s) of universities and colleges operating in Liberia must posses a doctorate degree form an accredited universities and / or colleges. An honorary degree holder is disallowed to serve as President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at any higer education institutions with in the Rebublic of Liberia”, a press statement from NCHE unde the signature of Director General Prof. Edward Lama Wonkeryor noted.
There is a total of 3 full fledge public universities in the country, 14 community colleges and 25 private and faith based colleges and universities.
Following the policy announcement, Presidents of the African Methodist Episcopal University and African Methodist Episcopal Zion University resigned as head of the institution. They were qualified as per the NCHEโs policy.
The National Commission for Higher Education is the statutory arm of the Liberian Government that regulates, supervises higher education and is charge with the responsibilities to license, accredite, monitor and evaluate all post secondary institutions the Republic of Liberia.
