IPNews-Monrovia, Liberia-29 June 2018:Authorities of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) have ordered the closure of six private Universities, which the entity observed were operating illegally in the country.
David S. Dahn, NCHE Acting Director-General, said the universities or colleges in question were operating without any accreditation from the commission, neither any operational permit from the Commission, but have been illegally offering degrees in educational programs.
Some of those illegally established universities or colleges ordered closed with immediate effect include the Dayspring Bible College, Grace International Bible University, Pilgrims College and School of Ministry, Liberia College of Nursing and Divinity, New Dimension Theological Seminary and the ASSFI University College.
Mr. Dahn made the disclosure on Wednesday, June 27, at NCHE headquarters on SD Cooper Road, Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
Of the affected universities and colleges, the ASSFI University College has applied for tertiary operational permit and is under review by the Quality Assurance Department of the commission.
“We have written to the heads of these so-called institutions for a conference because they were operating illegally in the country; some of them responded and others did not, so now deemed it necessary to order them closed,” Dahn said.
“We will appropriately inform authorities at the Ministry of Justice to effect the closure’s order,” he said.
“Let it be known that the NCHE has jailed the presidents of bogus universities, who were operating illegally by offering fake Master’s Degrees,” Dahn said.
NCHE Director of Quality Assurance J. Andrew Lablah informed reporters that the Commission has accredited the University of Liberia, Cuttington University, Stella Maris Polytechnic, United Methodist University and the AME University to offer Master’s degree.
Lablah said Starz College of Technology has been elevated to a Master’s Degree-Granting Institution, but is currently undergoing the final review to substantiate the Masters Degree Granting Status.
According to him, there are 12 Bachelor’s degree-Granting Institutions to include the William V.S. Tubman University, African Methodist Episcopal Zion 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, Bluecrest University College and the Harbel Community College, Bushrod Technical Institute, and Smythe Institution of Management and Technology.
At the meantime, the Commission is also doing the final review on Symthe Institute to substantiate the Bachelor’s degree-Granting Status.
“Only those institutions which are accredited should operate, contrarily, any other institutions operating without a permit will be closed down and the so-called administrators penalized,” Lablah declared.
However, he said, only 17 institutions have Associate’s degree permit, including 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.
Mr. Dahn said, “Very soon, NCHE will collaborate with authorities at the the Ministry of Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Board and Medical, and Dental Council to close down Nursing or Nurse Aid Schools that are offering tertiary programs without the legal permit.
The are reports that the Commission has targeted to close down over 47 nursing and nurse aid schools that are “illegally operating.”
Prof. Dahn also announced that beginning mid-July, a thorough inspection of permit granting institutions will be done, including instructors’ credentials, curriculum as well as the renewal of permits.
