Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has emphasised the need for National Council of Higher Education (Nche) to do public awareness campaigns for people to understand the council’ roles and responsibilities.
Director of Higher Education in the ministry, Samson Mbewe, said the mixed reactions that the council attracted after the last assessment of private and public institutions confirmed that many stakeholders are not familiar with the council.
“People should understand that higher education institutions are supposed to be assessed. It can happen now and 10 years later. They can be re-assessed to see if they are in line with the standards. Those reactions show that people are not familiar with the council,” Mbewe said
He said this during the inauguration of Nche offices in Lilongwe on Thursday.
The release of names of institutions and programmes that the council assessed in as far as provision of quality education in the country is concerned attracted mixed reactions from the public.
The exercise brought disorder in some private institutions and managers of such institutions were forced to come out to justify their status.
The development also forced some students to obtain an injunction against, the results and the accreditation process both arguing that the council was using guidelines from other countries.
Mbewe further said stakeholders should be able to differentiate between registration and accreditation of various institutions.
Nche Chief Executive Officer, Mathildah Chinthila-Munthali, defended the feedback arguing that the council had followed, and continues to take into account procedures before assessing any private and public institution.
“The bottom line is that is expected. If you look at other countries like Kenya and Tanzania, it is the same reaction. When their own Nche came about, the reaction was the same as what we are experiencing here in Malawi. So, it is nothing because it is to do with change,” Munthali said.
On the opening of the new infrastructure, Munthali said the council will be able to execute its duties accordingly.
So far, the council has assessed about 25 institutions in the country.
World Bank supported the council for the construction project of the offices with funds amounting to K560 million.
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