Published: June 25, 2025
MONROVIA – In a crackdown on substandard tertiary institutions, the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has shut down 31 unauthorized colleges and suspended the licenses of 22 others for violating accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
NCHE Executive Director Edward Lama Wonkeryor made the announcement Tuesday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, calling the action a necessary step to protect the integrity of Liberia’s higher education system.
“These schools are operating illegally and pose a serious threat to the credibility of our education system,” Wonkeryor said. “We are urging the public not to enroll in them.”
The suspensions and closures follow a nationwide quality assurance audit aimed at identifying institutions that fail to meet minimum academic, structural, and operational benchmarks.
Prominent Institutions Affected
Among the 22 suspended institutions are several well-known names, including Cepres University, Prevailing Word University, Barshell University College—founded by former District No. 3 Representative Cebee Barshell—Christian University College, Modern University, Kollah University—linked to former Liberty Party Secretary General Martin Kollah—AVEEM University, and Wesleyan College.
“These institutions have failed to meet the minimum standards required by the commission to continue operating as accredited institutions,” Wonkeryor stated.
The 31 institutions ordered to shut down immediately include Mertu Institute, GONET Academy, Professional Journalism School, Bless Hope of Biblical Studies, Vision Art Institute, and Monrovia Open Bible College. These schools were found to be operating without accreditation or legal authorization.
Warning to Accredited Schools
In a move signaling stricter enforcement across the board, Wonkeryor also issued a one-year compliance ultimatum to several fully accredited institutions. These include the University of Liberia, Cuttington University, Bomi County Technical College, Adventist University of West Africa, Salvation Army Polytechnic University, Apex University of Liberia, and Nimba University.
“These institutions must bring themselves into full compliance with NCHE standards within the grace period,” he warned. “Failure to do so will lead to further suspensions or closures.”
Regulatory Reform and Public Trust
The NCHE’s action reflects growing concerns over the proliferation of low-quality or unregulated institutions offering degrees and certifications without proper oversight.
Higher education experts and civil society advocates have long criticized the lax enforcement of academic standards in Liberia, which they say undermines public trust and produces poorly qualified graduates.
Wonkeryor said the Commission remains committed to ensuring that all institutions meet the required benchmarks for faculty qualifications, academic infrastructure, financial transparency, and administrative capacity.
“This is not a witch hunt,” he emphasized. “It is a firm but fair attempt to clean up our higher education sector and restore credibility.”
The NCHE has published the full list of affected institutions and encouraged students, parents, and sponsors to verify accreditation status before enrolling.
The Commission is expected to conduct additional monitoring exercises to ensure long-term compliance.
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