The country’s higher education and technical training regulators have warned that some institutions are awarding unrecognized foreign qualifications after a recent joint inspection uncovered irregularities in the sector.
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) said the practice violates national laws and risks misleading students.
In a joint statement, NCHE Chief Executive Officer Ambumulire Itimu Phiri and TEVETA Executive Director Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola said the inspection revealed widespread non-compliance within parts of the academic, vocational and technical education sector, including institutions operating without lawful registration, offering unapproved programmes and partnering with foreign awarding bodies that lack accreditation in their countries of origin.
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“In addition to operating without lawful registration with either of the Regulators, some training institutions are delivering unregistered programmes and facilitating award of qualifications from unrecognised awarding bodies such as Business Management Education Centre (BMEC) (UK) and American Institute of Extended Studies AEIS (US), among others,” reads the statement.
The two bodies have condemned what they described as collusion with unaccredited international entities, warning that the malpractice contravenes the TEVET Qualifications Framework Rules of 2004, the TEVET Registration of Education and Training Institutions Regulations of 2006 and the NCHE Act No. 15 of 2011.
They warned that such conduct undermines the integrity and quality assurance framework of Malawi’s higher education and technical training system and exposes unsuspecting students to academic and professional risks.
The statement has cautioned the public that qualifications from the named foreign awarding institutions have no legal standing in Malawi and cannot be used for employment, further studies or professional recognition within the country.
“Qualifications from BMEC (UK) and AEIS (US) are not recognised. These qualifications are offered by unaccredited awarding bodies in their countries of origin, and therefore cannot be accepted for any official, professional or academic purposes in Malawi,” reads the statement.
The regulators urged prospective students, parents and guardians to verify the registration status of institutions and accreditation of programmes before enrolling, saying failure to do so could result in pursuing qualifications that are invalid under Malawi’s higher education and technical training regulations.
Under an existing memorandum of understanding, NCHE and TEVETA said joint inspections would be intensified to identify and take enforcement action against unregistered colleges and unapproved programmes.