MONROVIA, Feb. 7 (LINA) – Education Minister Ansu Sonii has stressed the need to standardize universities in Liberia.
Minister Sonii stated that standardization of higher education will go a long way to enhance productive human resource to transform the nation in every sector.
The Education minister made the statement over the weekend when he launched the policies for licensing institutions to conduct Post-Secondary Education and Training and E-Learning Standards for Higher Education in Liberia held at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town outside Monrovia.
According to him, higher education is critical towards the socio and economic development in any nation and Liberia cannot take it for granted.
He noted that with growing population of students seeking Post-secondary Education, higher education should be strengthened with the necessary standard.
Minister Sonii maintained that strengthening the Liberian educational system requires building the system to meet up with international standards of learning to ensure that graduates from Liberia compete with others globally.
Meanwhile, acting Director General of the National Commission on Higher Education, Rev. James A. Lablah, said the policies for Licensing Institutions and accreditation will not be done automatically again.
Director Lablah stated that proposed universities will not be accredited immediately when they apply for license, but need two years of mentorship under existing universities before proposed universities can be accredited.
He stated that the Commission will ensure that proposed universities have sustainable financial base rather than depending on students’ fees to operate the institutions.
He indicated that currently, there are more than 45 universities in Liberia and the policies on higher education will ensure that they are standardized for quality education.
The Commission on Higher Education was established through an Act of Legislature in 1989, but started to function in 1997.
