Dr. Cecelia Cassell, Director General of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE), has announced sweeping reforms at the Commission. Dr. Cassell said, the reform aimed at restoring credibility, quality, and global competitiveness to the higher education system.
She made the disclosure during the Ministry of Information regular press briefing over the weekend in Monrovia, where she outlined a comprehensive overhaul of accreditation, monitoring, and evaluation framework. She described her appointment as a call to national service rather than a routine administrative role; stressing that her leadership marks a shift toward stricter, research-based oversight of universities and colleges. She said, the Commission currently oversees 80 accredited institutions, while an additional 53 applications for accreditation remain pending bringing the total number of entities seeking to operate higher education space to more than 130. Despite pressure from pending applicants, who have already paid assessment fees, Dr. Cassell said the Commission has deliberately chosen to prioritize quality assurance within existing institutions before expanding the sector further. She appealed to applicants for patience, noting that the immediate focus is to ensure that currently accredited universities and colleges are delivering education that meets both national and international standards. To address long-standing concerns about the fairness and transparency of past evaluations, Dr. Cassell announced the introduction of a collaborative reassessment model. Under the new approach, institutions will first conduct self-assessments using standardized instruments provided by the Commission. This process will then be followed by on-site verification visits by NCHE teams to confirm claims related to faculty strength, infrastructure, governance, and academic resources. She warned that institutions found to be in violation of established standards risk sanctions ranging from temporary suspension to complete revocation of their operating licenses. Beyond policy reforms, Dr. Cassell also highlighted a physical and administrative transformation within the Commission itself. In a related development, the NCHE has officially relocated to a newly identified orange facility in Congo Town, along the Back Road near the police station.
The relocation symbolizes renewed urgency, professionalism, and accessibility in the Commission’s operations.
Dr. Cassell said the new headquarters will serve as a hub for her collaborative, “team player” leadership approach, which emphasizes close engagement with university presidents and academic leaders.