Professional Journalism School Picks Fight with National Commission on Higher Education over “Illegal Suspension”

Monrovia, Liberia: The Professional Journalism School of Liberia (PJSL) has launched a fierce condemnation of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) for what Executive Director Courage C. Mulbah describes as “an irresponsible and baseless decision” to label the institution as operating illegally.

PJSL, Executive Director, says the suspension is not only unlawful but also exposes gross negligence and regulatory confusion within the NCHE.

According to Mulbah, PJSL is a duly recognized professional institution, legally registered with the Liberia Business Registry since November 30, 2019, and maintains a valid operational permit from the Ministry of Education.

The school’s latest permit renewal was granted in March 2025 under license number 028, reaffirming its status as a lawful and compliant educational institution under the framework that governs Liberia’s education system.

The institution emphasized that it offers diploma and certificate programs in journalism and related fields, categories traditionally and legally governed by the Ministry of Education, not the NCHE.

PJSL argued that its vocational mandate does not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCHE, which is primarily tasked with regulating degree-awarding higher education institutions.

The move by the NCHE to interfere in the affairs of technical and professional schools was labeled as a clear case of administrative overreach, Mulbah argues.

Mulbah noted that if the NCHE has made structural adjustments to its regulatory scope—particularly by absorbing vocational and diploma-level oversight—then a formal nationwide notice should have been sent to all institutions impacted.

Instead, PJSL says it was ambushed by the public announcement, with no official communication or consultation from the commission.

The PJSL administration is now questioning the procedural integrity of the NCHE, calling the public suspension of accredited schools without due diligence an act of defamation, misinformation, and institutional sabotage.

“We are not illegal. We are licensed, compliant, taxpaying, and operational under the laws of Liberia,” the administration noted in a separate statement.

PJSL revealed that its legal team has begun formal consultations to challenge what it called a reckless move by the NCHE.

According to the institution, such behavior not only damages its reputation but also creates panic among students, parents, and employers who rely on its professional training to build competent journalists for national service.

Despite the controversy, PJSL has vowed to remain open and continue its academic activities without interruption.

The administration says its resolve to train ethical, dynamic, and qualified media professionals remains unshaken.

It is also calling on the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to intervene and clearly define jurisdictional boundaries to avoid future regulatory clashes.

The institution expressed disappointment that the NCHE would act without properly vetting the schools it labeled as illegal, particularly those with verifiable documentation.

PJSL sees the commission's actions as setting a dangerous precedent for arbitrary decision-making within Liberia’s education sector—one that could jeopardize the legitimacy of hardworking, law-abiding institutions.

PJSL reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance, academic integrity, and public accountability. 

The institution urged the media and general public to rely on verified sources and direct institutional communication before accepting unsubstantiated claims, especially from regulators who fail to recognize due process.

Mulbah warned that if such actions are left unchecked, Liberia’s fragile education system risks becoming a victim of mismanagement, misinformation, and institutional sabotage.