Dear Editor,
After doing some research, it was surprising to learn that many institutions in Jamaica are actually allowed to offer unaccredited degrees. Some of these institutions are well established and they offer some degrees on the basis that they will eventually get accreditation after the programme goes through its full life cycle producing the first batch of graduates.
This makes no sense as there must be an element of fraud or misrepresentation somewhere, as I am certain that many of the students graduating from these programmes may not even realise they are not accredited as they are not advertised as such. Employers may also be reluctant to accept these degrees as a standard for qualification, leaving many holding the bag.
The Ministry of Education and accreditation bodies such as UCJ should immediately reform the process on how they deal with accreditation to protect the interests of vulnerable students before they invest large sums in their post-secondary education. I agree with the suggestion that institutions rather than their individual degree programmes should be accredited. In other words, they should grant educational accreditation to the institution, based on standards set for its entire operation, from teaching and content, to methodology and execution. I am sure if the degree or diploma is advertised as 'unaccredited' no one would enrol in it. This is a very serious issue which needs to be resolved quickly so that unsuspecting students aren't victimised as a result of flaws in the system over which they have no control.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Students with unaccredited degrees left holding the bag
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After doing some research, it was surprising to learn that many institutions in Jamaica are actually allowed to offer unaccredited degrees. Some of these institutions are well established and they offer some degrees on the basis that they will eventually get accreditation after the programme goes through its full life cycle producing the first batch of graduates.
This makes no sense as there must be an element of fraud or misrepresentation somewhere, as I am certain that many of the students graduating from these programmes may not even realise they are not accredited as they are not advertised as such. Employers may also be reluctant to accept these degrees as a standard for qualification, leaving many holding the bag.
The Ministry of Education and accreditation bodies such as UCJ should immediately reform the process on how they deal with accreditation to protect the interests of vulnerable students before they invest large sums in their post-secondary education. I agree with the suggestion that institutions rather than their individual degree programmes should be accredited. In other words, they should grant educational accreditation to the institution, based on standards set for its entire operation, from teaching and content, to methodology and execution. I am sure if the degree or diploma is advertised as 'unaccredited' no one would enrol in it. This is a very serious issue which needs to be resolved quickly so that unsuspecting students aren't victimised as a result of flaws in the system over which they have no control.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Students with unaccredited degrees left holding the bag
-->