It is critical for students to be vigilant and probing when they enroll for courses across the world as the education space is increasingly becoming chaotic owing to dubious and unaccredited courses being offered, mainly online.
The chief executive officer of the Council on Higher Education (CHE), Dr Litṥabako Ntoi, in this interview with theReporter’s Neo Kolane, warns students not to be too excited when they are admitted at tertiary institutions. They should take time to verify that the courses they are applying for accredited, she says, because accredited courses are quality assured.
The rise in online courses over the years has added more confusion, hence students should be wary and seek assistance from profession bodies before enrolling for course.
What does course accreditation mean?
Accredited programmes are subject to hard assessments, which include reviewing the curriculum, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and overall effectiveness in achieving the intended outcomes. When a course is accredited, it means the programme has been quality assured and prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary for real-world application.
Accreditation is not a one-time process, it involves regular reviews, ensuring that programmes evolve and adapt to meet new educational needs, industry standards, and best practices. This ensures that students are receiving a current and relevant education.
How come there are schools in Lesotho’s that offer courses that are not accreditation?
Some schools prioritise profits over the quality of education. They rush to offer courses without going through the necessary accreditation processes. This may include offering courses quickly without waiting for approval or meeting all the required standards.
Gaining accreditation can be a complex and time-consuming process. Some schools try to avoid it due to bureaucratic hurdles involved, such as consulting stakeholders, which ensures that the course is aligned with market needs, and putting the necessary infrastructure in place.
There are some institutions that continue offering programmes that existed before accreditation requirements were formally introduced by bodies like the CHE. These programmes are “recognised” but not officially accredited.
Such institutions may be under pressure to offer courses quickly, often without fully preparing the necessary resources (qualified staff, infrastructure, or curriculum development), which can lead to lack of proper accreditation.
We also look at the physical infrastructure at such schools to see if it allows courses to run. This is especially so for schools offering practically-oriented courses. Following these procedures, we then give the nod.
The rise of online education has made it easier for unaccredited schools or institutions to offer programmes globally. Such programmes may not meet the required standards in the student’s home country or other countries where they may want to work.
It means a product of a person who has done a course which has gone under investigation, which is quality assured, which we believe will be a quality product, and the outcome will be a person who is able to fit into the course in real life.
What danger does that pose, both to the institution and students?
If a student completes a course that is not accredited, they may face difficulties when trying to transfer their credentials or pursue further education in other countries. For example, other countries may not accept a degree from an unaccredited institution, effectively making the course useless.
Unaccredited programmes often do not align with industry standards, an indication that graduates might not possess the skills needed to succeed in their careers. This could contribute to a higher risk of unemployment or under-employment.
Students enrolled in an unaccredited programme may be investing time and money into something that doesn’t lead to meaningful qualifications, which can cause personal financial hardship and legal complications in future employment.
On the other hand, schools that offer non-accredited programmes face reputational risks. Even if the school is trying to provide education, the lack of formal accreditation can damage its credibility in the long term.
Institutions that offer online courses take chances because they do not care about any risks of reputational damage. These days, we are finding many problems of online courses offered from other places.
Is a course accredited for professional recognition?
No, there are professional bodies whose job is to accredit. They then collaborate with professional bodies like medical councils. Such councils will investigate to see if certificates from other countries are at the same level with Lesotho standards. Upon verification, such graduates can then be registered to work in this country.
There is a relationship between CHE and professional bodies.
How often does the accrediting body reassess courses or institutions?
When a course is new, it comes to us after every two years, and when it is old, after five years.
We check to see that a course responds to Lesotho’s current needs. For instance, a 1978 course cannot answer to today’s needs, hence a student who has studied such a course cannot not fit in the current set up.
At other times, we relate unemployment to the economy, but we hardly relate it to education.
Is it legal for schools to offer courses that are not accredited?
It is illegal. Accreditation is a fairly new requirement, that is why we encourage students to verify if the courses they intend to purse are accredited. We’re also encouraging institutions to have accreditation for the programmes they’re offering.
I advise people who study outside the country, especially online, that there is no way one can take three weeks to complete a PhD or two weeks for a Master’s.
What are your parting words?
Student should first find out if the institutions they intend to attend are credible and accredited. This can do this by coming to CHE to figure it out.
A student can go to say India and China and attend an unaccredited school, so it is not an issue of online studying only, but physical attendance as well.
As higher education continues to evolve in a globalised, interconnected world, the importance of accreditation will further grow. This ensures that students receive education that is relevant but also recognised as credible by employers, governments, and academic institutions worldwide.
