Monrovia – The administration of Gonet Academy, a number one establishment in technical and vocational training in Liberia, has expressed shock and dismay over its inclusion on a listing of establishments allegedly working illegally, as launched by the Nationwide Fee on Larger Schooling (NCHE).
Regardless of being in good standing with the Ministry of Schooling and the Agricultural and Industrial Coaching Bureau (AITB), which oversee Technical and Vocational Schooling and Coaching (TVET) applications, Gonet Academy strongly denied the NCHE’s claims, sustaining that it operates inside the bounds of the legislation.
“We function legitimately and beneath hard-earned dedication from the Ministry of Schooling and authorization of AITB. We have been shocked by the NCHE’s announcement, as no formal communication engagement or audit was ever performed with our establishment earlier than making such a public declare,” the establishment acknowledged in a launch.
The NCHE not too long ago launched a crackdown on what it described as “substandard and unlawful” tertiary establishments, saying the closure of 31 and the suspension of twenty-two others for violating accreditation requirements.
“That is very a lot unfair. We now have been working legitimately on this nation and there’s no manner that we’ll need to do issues out of the way in which. We’re too accountable, educated, and vibrant to fake to not do the precise factor. We can not cover from the federal government. Proof could be seen in our tax fee information on the Liberia Income Authority,” the discharge added.
The NCHE’s Govt Director, Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, mentioned throughout a press briefing on the Ministry of Info that the closures adopted a nationwide high quality assurance audit and have been essential to safeguard the integrity of Liberia’s training sector.
“These faculties are working illegally and pose a severe risk to the credibility of our training system,” mentioned Dr. Wonkeryor. “We’re urging the general public to not enroll in them.”
Nevertheless, Gonet Academy pushed again, stating that it has been accredited and working legally since 2022. The establishment accused the NCHE of failing to train due diligence or present prior communication earlier than publishing its findings.
“How can the NCHE conduct a top quality assurance audit with out formally speaking to establishments to be audited? There isn’t any proof that the NCHE performed a validation for the report earlier than publishing it publicly. Our establishment’s hard-earned credibility has been painted negatively and it’s extraordinarily unfair.”
The assertion continued: “We want to make clear and inform the general public that Gonet Academy is a legally registered and accredited establishment beneath GonetAfrica Inc., working beneath the authorization of each the Ministry of Schooling and the Agricultural and Industrial Coaching Bureau (AITB).”
GonetAfrica Inc., registered with the Liberia Enterprise Registry, is the guardian establishment of Gonet Academy. The academy gives certificates and diploma applications in technical, vocational, and industry-relevant fields—categorized as pre-tertiary applications.
“We now have a mission to equip Liberians with the sensible abilities, information, and instruments essential to thrive in in the present day’s quickly altering workforce and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s sustainable growth,” the discharge famous.
In response to Gonet Academy, it obtained accreditation from the Ministry of Schooling in June 2022. Nevertheless, because of the 2023 Normal Elections and the Ministry’s transition into a brand new Service Supply Constitution beneath the present administration, the renewal course of was paused. The academy acknowledged it has since reached out to the Ministry for clarification and steerage.
Allegations of Bias and Double Requirements
Gonet Academy additional questioned what it termed as “double requirements” on the a part of the NCHE. In response to the establishment, its representatives had visited the NCHE final yr to inquire about accreditation procedures for non-degree applications and have been instructed that the Fee was nonetheless creating its Service Supply Constitution.
“Early final yr, just a few members of Gonet Academy visited the workplaces of the NCHE to know the accreditation panorama and decide whether or not the Fee’s oversight prolonged to short-term certificates and diploma applications. Throughout that casual assembly, we have been knowledgeable that the NCHE was within the strategy of creating its Service Supply Constitution (SDC) and that engagements with different academic stakeholders have been ongoing to determine a transparent regulatory framework for skilled and technical coaching establishments,” the assertion famous.
“Recognizing the mandate of the NCHE for degree-granting establishments, we subsequently engaged the AITB, which, in September 2024, granted us official authorization to function as a Technical Coaching Establishment providing certificates and diploma applications.”
The academy emphasised that it doesn’t provide affiliate, undergraduate, or graduate levels. “Our focus is on non-degree skilled and technical coaching,” the assertion mentioned. “Our skilled growth applications in areas comparable to Monitoring & Analysis, Mission Administration, Finance, ICT, and Communication are designed to upskill Liberia’s workforce in help of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Improvement (AAID), SDG 4 (High quality Schooling), and SDG 8 (Respectable Work and Financial Development).”
Is Gonet Academy Outshining LIPA?
Some observers have instructed that Gonet Academy is being focused resulting from its rising prominence, presumably threatening the standing of the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA), the government-run physique for capability constructing.
“Individuals are not pleased about Gonet Academy’s development and stage of vibrancy in the previous few years. They aren’t pleased that Gonet Academy has turn out to be so enticing to Liberians and international residents whereas LIPA, the federal government entity enacted by legislation to supply these providers, will not be doing a lot as of late,” a authorities supply instructed this reporter. “They need to do all they will to convey that vibrant establishment down with all types of trivial accusations. That is unfair.”
“The very best the individuals at LIPA can do to turn out to be a greater competitor to Gonet Academy is to take a position and rebrand the entity as a substitute of preventing younger people who find themselves doing so properly,” the supply added.
“NCHE categorization of Gonet Academy as unlawful is unfounded. This seems to be pushed extra by politics than by info,” David Okay. Singbee posted on his social media web page. “These are causes Liberians with better alternatives overseas don’t need to come again house to influence the following era as a result of they are going to be haunted by political opportunists. With no reservations I strongly imagine that the Gonet Academy’s administration will probably be exonerated from this political battle.”
AITB Response and Licensing Course of
The AITB confirmed that Gonet Academy had utilized for a license final yr however was suggested to attend whereas the bureau developed its Nationwide TVET Requirements. Within the interim, the academy was issued a letter of authorization to function.
“I prolong compliments and write to formally inform you of the Authorities of Liberia’s ongoing nationwide initiative to reform and standardize the Technical and Vocational Schooling and Coaching (TVET) sector,” learn a letter from AITB shared by Gonet Academy. “As a part of this course of, the Bureau, in collaboration with related stakeholders, is at the moment main the event and rollout of the Nationwide TVET Requirements for compliance monitoring and enforcement.”
The AITB emphasised that when the requirements are finalized, establishments will obtain Competency Licenses and be topic to common compliance evaluations.
“Since Could 2024, upon appointments of the brand new AITB Administration Staff Members, a big variety of TVET directors throughout Liberia have reached out to AITB to amass the Competence License – a vital credential affirming institutional alignment with nationwide TVET requirements,” the bureau mentioned in a current assertion. “The AITB assures stakeholders that the long-anticipated course of will quickly be operational following the completion of an ongoing compliance monitoring and hole evaluation examine.”
Hope for Decision
Regardless of what it described as a “stab within the again,” Gonet Academy met with NCHE Govt Director Dr. Wonkeryor on June 25, 2025, in what was described as a “productive assembly.”
“The aim of the assembly was to make clear our standing, present supporting documentation, and discover the pathway for formal accreditation beneath NCHE’s evolving framework,” the academy acknowledged in a Fb put up following the assembly. “In the course of the dialogue, we reaffirmed our authorized standing by way of the Ministry of Schooling and AITB, expressed our unwavering dedication to regulatory compliance and high quality assurance, emphasised our position in empowering over 3,000 Liberian professionals throughout sectors in simply 4 years, and acknowledged the broader confusion surrounding inter-agency coordination and Service Supply Charters.”
Dr. Wonkeryor reportedly assured the academy that the Fee’s goal will not be punitive however to foster collaboration and alignment amongst academic establishments. He welcomed the thought of a nationwide dialogue to harmonize rules for each degree-granting {and professional} establishments.
“We need to inform the general public that following our assembly with the Govt Director of the NCHE, we submitted an official letter of request to proceed operations beneath the AITB authorization and a letter of intent, which has been acknowledged to undergo the accreditation strategy of the NCHE,” Gonet Academy mentioned.
The establishment reaffirmed its dedication to nationwide growth by way of accessible, sensible, and accredited coaching applications aimed toward empowering Liberia’s youth and workforce.
