Fact Check: None of the Six Tertiary Schools Shutdown in 2018 for Illegally Operating Qualified To Operate

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  

1. University of Liberia
2. Stella Maris Polytechnic University
3. United Methodist University
4. African Methodist Episcopal University
5. Starz University
6. Evangelical Seminary University of Africa
7. African Methodist Episcopal Zion University
8. Bluecrest University College,
9. Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary
10. Liberia Assemblies of God Bible College
11. Monrovia Bible College
12. Clements University College
13. Bushrod College of Technology
14. Smythe Institute of Management & Technology
15. Barshell University College
16. Evangel Christian Seminary & College
17. Cepres International University
18. Liberia Christian College
19. Hill City University
20. Wesleyan College of Liberia {Elevated to BA Level}
21. Jake Memorial Baptist College
22. Leigh-Sherman Community College
23. Christian Theological Seminary
24. Vision International Christian College of Liberia
25. Lincoln College of Professional Studies
26. Liberia Dujah Technical College
27. Salvation Army Polytechnic
28. Licosess Teacher College
29. Censil College
30. Notre Dame University College of Liberia
31. Best Brain International University College
32. John Christian Community College
33. Thomas P. Fallah University College

Bong County

1. Cuttington University,
2. Bong County Technical College
3. Baptist College of Missionary Physician Assistants
4. Sumo Moye Memorial Technical College
5. Phebe College of Health Sciences

Nimba County

1. Nimba County Community College
2. African Bible College University
3. Liberia International Christian College
4. PYJ Polytechnic University College

Margibi County

1. Adventist University of West Africa
2. Harbel College
3. Trinity College of Professional Studies (Formerly Trinity Bible College BA)
4. Liberia Maritime Training Institute

Lofa County

1. Lofa County Community College
2. Free Pentecostal College

Maryland County

1. William VS. Tubman University

Bomi County

1. Bomi Community College

Grand Bassa County

1. Grand Bassa Community College

Grand Gedeh County

1. Grand Gedeh County Community College

Sinoe County

1. 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.”