Ministry of Education, NCHE and Regulatory Bodies Discuss Higher Education Overarching Bill

The Malawi Ministry of Education, through its Higher Education Department and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), engaged professional regulatory bodies as part of ongoing consultations to shape the Higher Education Overarching Bill (HEB).

The meeting, among others, aimed to address challenges like “double accreditation” which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have expressed concerns about and streamline regulatory roles for improved service delivery in higher education.

Stakeholders, including those from the Teachers Council of Malawi, Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA), Medical Council of Malawi and Malawi Institute of Engineers, shared valuable insights on aligning accreditation processes and maintaining quality standards.

Dr. Levis Eneya, Director for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the importance of regulatory bodies in maintaining quality education standards noting that the HEB will help clarify responsibilities, reduce confusion for HEIs and align with professional bodies’ mandates.

NCHE CEO Dr. Ambumulire Phiri reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to ensuring the HEB addresses stakeholder concerns while enhancing efficiency.

The consultation marks a key step toward a unified regulatory framework benefiting Malawians and Higher Education Institutions.