Monrovia – The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has released a sweeping evaluation report uncovering widespread deficiencies across Liberia’s higher education sector. The report highlights long-standing challenges at some of the country’s top universities and announces the suspension or closure of 53 tertiary institutions found to be operating illegally or falling short of regulatory standards.
Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, Director General of the NCHE, said the exercise was part of efforts to assess compliance with basic academic and operational standards among all post-secondary institutions nationwide. According to him, the findings paint a troubling picture of the sector, with many institutions failing to meet even the minimum requirements for quality education.
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“Following the exercise, the NCHE found that most of the higher education institutions operating in our country, operate under challenged condition, with several requirement lacking,” Dr. Wonkeryor said. “The exercise uncovered several institutional challenges, including but not limited to staff qualification, absence of requisite facilities such as libraries laboratory faculty lunch, latrines, among others. The exercise also found some facilities and administrators with dubious qualifications and credentials. There were also cases of noncompliance with regulatory requirements.”
Historic Challenges and Renewed Reforms
Liberia’s education system has faced persistent issues over the years. In 2013, then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf infamously described it as “a mess” after all 25,000 students who sat for the University of Liberia’s entrance exams failed. Since then, successive governments have introduced measures aimed at improving the sector, but gaps remain.
The NCHE’s latest report cites ongoing violations, including failure to pay annual service fees and the unauthorized addition of academic programs—both in violation of national policy. The Commission said these findings demand urgent reform and enforcement.
Among the institutions reviewed were some of Liberia’s flagship universities, including the University of Liberia (UL), Cuttington University, African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), African Bible College University (ABCU), and Tubman University (TU). While these institutions were not suspended, the NCHE has issued a one-year ultimatum to address persistent administrative, infrastructural, and academic shortcomings.
Dr. Wonkeryor noted that currently, 79 colleges and universities are chartered, licensed, and/or accredited by the NCHE across 12 counties. He clarified the distinctions among these statuses:
- Chartered institutions are created by legislative enactment.
- Accredited institutions have met threshold standards for academic quality.
- Licensed institutions are approved to operate, having satisfied the minimum requirements related to integrity, sustainability, qualified instruction, and student assessment.
Quality Assurance Drive and Methodology
Dr. Wonkeryor emphasized that the pursuit of quality in higher education has driven the NCHE’s reform agenda. The latest “Quality Assurance Assessment,” launched in November 2024, was designed to examine institutional operations and programs, ensuring compliance with the Commission’s standards.
The assessment had two key objectives including reforming the sector to promote competitive and high-quality education aligned with Liberia’s national development agenda ad ensuring institutions comply with NCHE’s established quality standards and operational guidelines.
The exercise, he said, was conducted by teams of educators, regulators, and members of the NCHE Board of Commissioners. It involved management interviews, facility inspections, and document verification, including staff qualifications.
The evaluation focused on seven strategic areas including institutional governance and management, academic programs and curriculum faculty and administrative qualifications, facilities and infrastructure, student support services, research and community engagement and financial management and sustainability
Four-Tier Classification and Institutional Action
Following the assessment, institutions were categorized into four groups: Category A – Accredited/chartered institutions with challenges; Category B – Accredited/licensed institutions with challenges; Category C – Institutions whose licenses are suspended due to falling below higher education standards and Category D – Illegal institutions operating without NCHE approval, now shut down immediately
Institutions in Categories A and B, he said were found to lack adequate faculty, proper learning environments, libraries, laboratories, and in some cases, employed staff with fake credentials. While they are permitted to continue operations for now, they have been informed of the specific deficiencies that must be addressed. Failure to respond satisfactorily will result in suspension or closure.
Institutions in Category C were cited for additional failures, including lack of strategic and financial planning, and operating without proper infrastructure. These have had their licenses suspended with immediate effect and are encouraged to collaborate with the NCHE to resolve issues.
Category D institutions—those found to be operating illegally—have been shut down immediately. The Commission warned these entities to follow the proper procedures before resuming any form of higher education operation in Liberia.
Public Reaction and Institutional Response
The NCHE’s actions have triggered a wave of public reactions. While many Liberians welcomed the crackdown on bogus institutions, others called for improved coordination between government agencies to avoid penalizing legitimate programs.
One such response came from Gonet Academy, which was listed among institutions allegedly operating illegally.
“Gonet Academy has taken note of a recent publication by the National Commission on Higher Education listing our institution among those ‘operating illegally’,” said Mohammed Kerkulah, Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of GonetAfrica Inc., which oversees the academy.
“We wish to clarify and inform the public that Gonet Academy is a legally registered and accredited institution under GonetAfrica Inc., operating under the authorization of both the Ministry of Education and the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau (AITB)—the regulatory authority for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs in Liberia.”
The Way Forward
Despite the controversy, the NCHE remains firm in its position. Dr. Wonkeryor reiterated that institutions willing to address deficiencies will be given an opportunity to regularize their status.
“This is not just about closing down institutions,” he said. “It is about raising the bar for quality education in Liberia. Our students deserve better, and we are committed to ensuring that higher education institutions meet the standards that will enable them to thrive.”
