THE National Accreditation Council (Amendment) Bill of 2019, which makes it illegal for an institution not to register with the council to offer tertiary education in Guyana, was passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The bill was tabled by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.
“Education and training is crucial to our individual and collective futures, it is the cornerstone of a strong democracy which all citizens can use to determine the type of society in which they wish to live and prosper, which is one of the most fundamental factors with the achievement of sustainable, economic, social and productiveness in creating human development,” Minister Henry said.
The bill, which amends the 2004 Act, intends to improve the effective administration and enforcement of the act through the amendment of definitions of terms such as “qualifications”, “recognise” and “register.”
Minister Henry said the National Accreditation Council needed to be empowered to carry out its functions to ensure all intuitions provide quality education for students in Guyana.
Minister Henry said the bill is concise in updating important pieces of the legislation and amend the National Accreditation Act with a view of incorporating regulations.
The minister explained that the bill seeks to enhance the development of the education sector.
The bill also provides for the council to maintain a register of institutions or providers registered or accredited in Guyana and their accredited courses, programmes and awards.
The amendments also provide for restrictions and prohibitions with respect to institutions and providers, for decisions to be made in keeping with the principles of natural justice, and provide transparent procedures for the imposition of administrative fines and penalties with respect to non-prosecutable breaches.
It also seeks to insert a new part which provides for various matters related to institutions and providers. Institutions shall not use words such as “university”, “college”, “tertiary college”, “polytechnic, community college”, “technical college”, “technical institute” or “technical university” in its name unless authorised by the council, an internationally-recognised body or any other law.
