Monrovia- February 17, 2023: Days after the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) passed a new regulation that restricts only PhD holders to head higher institutions of Learning in the country, credible reports say, the Presidents of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) Rev. Alvin E. Attah and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU)Dr. Benjamin Dormie Lartey have resigned from their respective positions. The duo who fell short of the requisite qualifications and their former positions are being advertised for replacement.

It be called early this week, the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) issued a press statement under the signature of the Director General Prof. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, stating that:

“This is to inform all heads of higher education institutions in Liberia that one of the overarching policy expectations of the NCHE is that all Presidents and Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs (VPAA’s) of Universities and Colleges operating in Liberia must possess a doctorate degree from an accredited university and /or colleges. An honorary degree holder is disallowed to serve as President or Vice President for Academic Affairs at any higher education institutions within the Republic of Liberia”

Our checks revealed that most of the administrators who fell short of the new regulations are from the faith based and other private institutions whose criteria and procedure for recruitment are flexible and most determined by the owners of the institutions.

Already, two of the faith based institutions, the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) and the African Methodist Zion University have declared the positions of their presidents vacant and have publicly advertised for qualified applicants to come forward.

There were strong indications that other faith based and private institutions such as Stella Maris Polytechnic University (SMPU), Smythe University, United Methodist University (UMU), among others may be following suit to replace some of their administrators who did not make the cut set by the new regulation.

The new regulation from NCHE is being viewed as being in the positive direction as it will go a long way to curb the wave of administrators of higher institutions, especially faith based institutions are taking up leadership roles at these academic centers without the requisite academic qualifications yet they are allowed to sign credentials of graduates for degrees the administrators do not possess.

The NCHE policy findings suggested that most of those heading higher institutions in the country hold honorary doctorate degrees while others obtained their higher degrees, normally, doctorate degrees from unverified online institutions.

The NCHE for some time now has been involved in waging war against the decay in the education sector beginning with cracking down on unlicensed and bogus institutions around those who are awarding fake degrees and other forms of certifications to unsuspecting students.

There are a total of 3 full-fledged public universities in the country, 14 community colleges and 25 private and faith based colleges and universities.

The NCHE is the statutory arm of the Liberian Government that regulates and supervises higher education institutions, and is charged with the responsibilities to license, accredit, monitor and evaluate all post-secondary institutions within the Republic of Liberia.

Meanwhile, Martin K. N Kollie, Executive Director of the Campaigners for Academic Crimes Court (CACC) has welcomed the decision from the two Presidents to resign; calling it a great decision, wants others at UL, SMPU, Smythe, UMU, etc. to resign or else CACC will pursue them. “No more free ride,” he said.

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