Paynesville, Liberia — In June 2018, the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) ordered the closure of six private tertiary schools, disclosing that these tertiary institutions were operating illegally. The NCHE said these universities or colleges had no operational permit nor provisional accreditation from the Commission and were offering fake degree programs.
Report By: Varney Kelvin Sirleaf, Local Voices Liberia Fact Checking Desk
The six institutions shutdown were the 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.
It’s now three years since these universities’ doors were shut. Are they now qualified or have met the standard set by the NCHE?
Local Voices Liberia fact checking desk has obtained the recent document form the NCHE showing all 53 tertiary institutions that are qualified to offer degree programs in the country.
Is any of the Six Institutions Qualified?
On the latest list of 53 qualified tertiary institutions, there are 33 institutions based in Montserrado County that are qualified; six in Bong, four in Margibi and Nimba respectively, two in Lofa and one each in Bomi, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Maryland and Grand Gedeh.
This means after three years of attempting to offer degree programs, 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 are yet to be granted accreditation by the NCHE.
Below are the qualified institution categorized by counties:
Montserrado County
- University of Liberia
- Stella Maris Polytechnic University
- United Methodist University
- African Methodist Episcopal University
- Starz University
- Evangelical Seminary University of Africa
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion University
- Bluecrest University College,
- Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary
- Liberia Assemblies of God Bible College
- Monrovia Bible College
- Clements University College
- Bushrod College of Technology
- Smythe Institute of Management & Technology
- Barshell University College
- Evangel Christian Seminary & College
- Cepres International University
- Liberia Christian College
- Hill City University
- Wesleyan College of Liberia {Elevated to BA Level}
- Jake Memorial Baptist College
- Leigh-Sherman Community College
- Christian Theological Seminary
- Vision International Christian College of Liberia
- Lincoln College of Professional Studies
- Liberia Dujah Technical College
- Salvation Army Polytechnic
- Licosess Teacher College
- Censil College
- Notre Dame University College of Liberia
- Best Brain International University College
- John Christian Community College
- Thomas P. Fallah University College
Bong County
- Cuttington University,
- Bong County Technical College
- Baptist College of Missionary Physician Assistants
- Sumo Moye Memorial Technical College
- Phebe College of Health Sciences
Nimba County
- Nimba County Community College
- African Bible College University
- Liberia International Christian College
- PYJ Polytechnic University College
Margibi County
- Adventist University of West Africa
- Harbel College
- Trinity College of Professional Studies (Formerly Trinity Bible College BA)
- Liberia Maritime Training Institute
Lofa County
- Lofa County Community College
- Free Pentecostal College
Maryland County
- William VS. Tubman University
Bomi County
- Bomi Community College
Grand Bassa County
- Grand Bassa Community College
Grand Gedeh County
- Grand Gedeh County Community College
Sinoe County
- Sinoe County Community College
Conclusion:
Local Voices Liberia can independently state based on all the evidence gathered after a fact checking processes that all of the six universities or colleges ordered closed in June 2018 have not been granted operational permit to offer degree.
This latest move by the Commission has brought to an end the debate about the number of qualified tertiary institutions in the country and shows clearly that none of the six institutions are qualified to operate as a tertiary institution in the country.
Rev. James Andrew Lablah, Communication Director of the NCHE, further told LVL Fact Checking Desk that the commission is challenged with logistics to sustained adequate monitoring of tertiary institutions operating illegally in the country, adding that they rely mostly on the public for hints.
“We have released the list of all tertiary institutions in the country, and emphatically I can say none of these six institutions met the required standards to be granted accreditation,” Rev. Lablah said.
“The NCHE is a public entity and so we will be glad if people inform us about institutions they noticed in their communities offering degree programs to the public outside of the accredited list we have released.”
You may contact us to fact check any claim or information relative to Liberia. Contact us on:
Factcheck.localvoicesliberia@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +231880986778
LVL Fact Checking Desk is part of the Liberia Media Initiative co-financed by the European Union. The funder had no say in the production of this report.
Local Voices Liberia is a network of dedicated Liberian journalists based in the 15 counties working to lift the development concerns and progress of rural communities.
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