NAB to audit qualifications of lecturers in private varsities
The National Accreditation Board (NAB) is to undertake an audit of the qualifications of lecturers in all chartered private universities across the country by end of next year.
The move is in line with a new strategic plan developed by the board to ensure that tertiary education is delivered with the highest standards while weeding out ‘chaff’ in the system.
Executive Secretary of NAB, Dr Kingsley Nyarko, gave the hint at the launch of a four-year (2019-2023) strategic plan of NAB and the commissioning of an Information Research Centre to enhance research activities in the country.
The new plan is hinged on six thematic areas; to implement accreditation and quality assurance frameworks that promote international standards and best practices, create a national qualification framework and learners’ records and automate the registry of the board, improve institutional support, visibility and legal frameworks for improved service delivery and compliance.
It seeks to also improve Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure, ensure high calibre of human resource who are innovative and globally competitive as well as improve revenue generation to deliver on NAB’s mandate.
Dr Nyarko disclosed that this year, three public universities including the University of Development Studies (UDS), University of Education, University of Mines and Technology and their affiliate campuses have been audited between January and December to promote quality assurance in those institutions.
“This is something we do periodically, and in previous years we have audited some schools. The focus has been to ensure whether they are operating within the mandate given them and maintain highest standards for teaching and learning outcomes.
“Presently, we have close to 216 institutions we supervise; some are new and others are due for accreditation, so working within the constraints of staff we have, we will do about three more next year; Valley View, Ashesi University and Central University.”
The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in a keynote address was happy with the new direction of NAB, which he believed would offer the foundation to evaluate the successes or otherwise of the various universities in the country.
“This document captures key issues that hamper quality tertiary education in the country, including a communication framework, effective database, digitisation among others which will further deepen efforts in that field of education.”
Mr Prempeh entreated the board to ensure the full implementation of the strategic plan to ensure that students come out of the institutions of higher learning much refined, skilled and competent enough to fit into the changing world.
Chairman of the Quality Assurance Committee of NAB, Professor Kwame Boasiako Omane-Antwi, said the new plan would consolidate gains made by the board in previous years to enhance tertiary education in the country.
He was mindful of the fact that with the roll out of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, more numbers were expected to gain admission into tertiary institutions next year, hence the preparedness of NAB to ensure standards were adhered to.
Prof. Omane-Antwi said, moving forward, NAB would deepen its collaborations with key stakeholders both locally and externally to support efforts in ensuring quality tertiary education in the country.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH