St. Christopher and Nevis Accreditation Board Enhancement Initiative Implementation Phase

BH Associateshas been appointed by UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, St Kitts-Nevis to undertake the implementation phase of new policies and procedures for accreditation and quality assurance. This follows on the review of the Accreditation Board of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN AB) undertaken by BH Associates during 2020-2021. That was the first such review since the establishment of the SKN AB by the Saint Christopher and Nevis Accreditation of Institutions Act 2017.

The review was especially timely given the significance of post-secondary and tertiary education to the economy of St Kitts and Nevis, the reputational issues arising and the increasing importance of quality assurance and accreditation internationally as noted in the 2017-2021 Education Sector Plan, Education for All: Embracing Change, Securing the Future. The Plan set out three overarching policy goals:

1.     Improve equitable access to, and participation in, education at all levels;

2.     Strengthen the quality and relevance of education at all levels to improve learning outcomes; and

3.     Enhance governance, planning, and management to improve efficiency and effectiveness throughout the sector.

It is proposed to revise the policies and procedures. These deliverables will be underpinned by legislative change to be promoted by the Minister for Education relating to the composition of the Accreditation Board and an integrated registration and accreditation process.