The whole mess is the result of unplanned rapid expansion in higher education combined with incompetent quality assurance system of the country. Banning the provision of distance education and private institutions is unfair and impractical. Moreover it will not solve the core problem of quality deterioration.

To fix the deficiency, there are various mechanisms such as developing a national framework of minimum quality standards, setting-up of effective quality assurance systems: both internal (within the institutions) and external (involving accreditation by regulatory agency). In effect, all higher education institutions should have a policy and associated procedures for the assurance of the quality and relevance of their programs. This should be accompanied with strict quality regulation and robust accreditation process applied to both private and public institutions.

But the implementation is not easy as it requires huge reform, substantial funding, committed collective effort, and accountability to quality. Indeed, these all are difficult to attain without devoted macro-level governing policies and political will.

I don’t think that it is a wise decision to ban the provision of distance education in all private higher education institutions, across the board, without assessing the quality of individual institutions based on explicitly stated standards. It is extremely authoritarian decision of the Ministry of Education which is not compatible with international good practices. This spontaneous declaration should be reviewed considering the fact that quality deterioration is not only in the private sector, but also in many public universities. Strict quality regulation applied to both private and public institutions is necessary to improve the quality of higher education in the country. DOUBLE STANDARDS of accreditation should be avoided, that apply only to the private institutions, but not to the public universities.

I think Ato Abinet has raised an important issue about the double standards of accreditation in the country that apply only to the private institutions, but not to the public universities. It is also sad to hear that there is corruption in the regulatory body for quality assurance. This is a serious matter which can deteriorate further the quality in higher education. The government should give an urgent priority to reform effective quality assurance practices; otherwise all the endeavors made in the last ten years to expand access to education will be worthless.

What is the answer of the regulatory body and the Ministry of Education to the problems mentioned in the interview? I hope the REPORTER will ask the concerned officials and publish their views soon.