By: Mariama Njie & Binta Jaiteh
Lawmakers have started debating on National Accreditation and Quality Assurance’s Bill that seeks to promote quality education and provide a proper legal framework to supervise and govern the public and private tertiary as well as higher education institutions in the country.
The Bill was tabled by the National Assembly Select committee on Education, Training and ICT on Tuesday.
Speaking during the debate in the parliament, Alhagie Mbow, vice chairperson of the house committee on Education, said: “the Bill will widen accessibility to quality and relevant public and private tertiary and education by regulating and guiding the registration, licensing, and accreditation.”
The bill will also monitor the quality of the programs in tertiary and higher education institutions in The Gambia, he said.
“It may be recalled that during the 4th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly in 2020 Legislative Year, the plenary committed the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority Bill with mandate to scrutinize it and report back to the National Assembly,” he said. He also added that the committee has acknowledged the positive response and contribution of all stakeholders from government to non-governmental institutions.
“We also gathered evidence from the bill and made external consultations with the relevant stakeholders,” he said. Also, the committee first convened on 14th day of January 2021 to identify the various stakeholders for consultation on the Bill and during that time reference was made to the existing Act 2013 and the 1997 constitution with a view to facilitating a guided process and outcome.
“All protective private non-degree awarding tertiary education institutions offering programs up to higher national diploma level shall pay to the authority through a special account at the Central Bank of The Gambia,” he said.
