As reported in Saturday’s paper, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has urged Government not to take a “hands-off approach” regarding National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA). Considering the recent turmoil through which
this relatively young vocational school has gone, that is not all too surprising.
The Chamber in its “unsolicited advice” said Government has an obligation to provide due education and access to such for the country’s citizens. That task may never be placed with third parties completely, having the latter execute such at their own discretion.
To be clear, there are other educational bodies with a considerable degree of autonomy such as the so-called private school boards in contrast to public education, but the ministry still has influence on the programmes, degree requirements, etc., for the two types of schools that are both subsidised as well.
The latter is also the case for NIPA, but the structure was set up in a way that gave Government little or no say over the supervisory board and consequently management. COCI indicated that a so-called “arm’s-length approach” may be undertaken, but proper provisions should be in place to safeguard the institution, its staff and its students from actions or failure to act by those in charge, “causing results that may be irrevocable and detrimental to the cause.”
Of course, it must be kept in mind that this standpoint regards particularly primary and secondary education. In tertiary or higher education there is usually more room for independent or semi-independent entities such as universities,
University of St. Martin (USM) can be considered one example of such and the Chamber obviously is not suggesting it too be placed under more stringent control. However, concerning the high school or even junior college level catering to mostly teenagers, it’s a whole other story.
