Nassau, The Bahamas — A new Council, headed by Dr. Iva Dahl, former President of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, and comprising of the country’s “top” academics, has been appointed to provide affirmation of institutions providing effective programs and services based on agreed regulations.
The Minister of Education, Science and Technology the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald informed Parliamentarians of the appointment of the Council during his Budget Debate Contribution, Thursday, June 16. “Institutions are expected to create an environment in which instructions, public service, research and learning occurs.
Accreditations allow self-governance, which in turn permits institutions to also employ continuous improvements in order to achieve goals for quality education,” said Minister Fitzgerald. “Through the process of accreditation; assessment of effectiveness in fulfilling its mission; adherence to set regulations; enhancement in quality of learning; programs and services offered is revealed.” The process, he said, calls for integrity, adherence to regulations set, documentation and informed judgments as a result of proper evaluation.
The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council, is a statutory body established under The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council Act of The Bahamas. The office of the Council will be operational before the start of the new school year. Dr. Dahl will serve as Executive Director. Council members have been appointed and will have “teeth” to carry out duties without reservation but in an “ethical,” “unprejudiced” and “professional” manner. All educational institutions in The Bahamas will be required to be registered by the Council. The process of registering all institutions is expected to take about two to three years as a detailed examination of all institutions will take place.
