The Council is established to promote high professional standards for the Nigerian Press, and deals with complaints emanating from members of the Public about the conduct of journalists in their professional practice or complaints emanating from the press about the conduct of persons or organisations towards the press.

A major function of the Council as regards promotion of high professional standards is the visitation to, and accreditation of courses offered by journalism/mass communication training institutions in Nigeria.

This publication is a review of the 1998 Guidelines for Accreditation of such institutions. Section 20 on approval of qualifications and institutions and Section 21 on relationship with training institutions are specific on the relationship between the Council and journalism/mass communication training institutions in Nigeria. These sections are produced as appendices in this edition. This new guidelines has taken into consideration the modern trend in communication development. For an example, we have designed the NPC Forms A, B & C, which are attached as appendices A, B and C. This is an attempt for a periodic review to ensure high professional standards in the practice of journalism and mass communication in Nigeria.

It is necessary to clarify the functions of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and that of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) with respect to accreditation of institutions. Whereas, the NBTE and NUC, among other things, accredit the academic contents of programmes of institutions, the Nigerian Press Council is empowered to accredit the professional contents of journalism/mass communication programmes.

It is hoped that this new Nigerian Press Council Guidelines for Accreditation Procedure of Professional Programmes in Journalism and Mass Communication in Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Similar Institutions will assist journalism/mass communication training institutions, media professionals, media educators to sustain quality control mechanism in the training of journalists in Nigeria particularly in coping with challenges of the constitutional obligation impose on the media.

The Council is empowered by its statute to maintain a register of all practicing journalists submitted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists. However, since inauguration in December 1992, the NUJ is yet to submit a register to the Council.

The Council is also statutorily empowered to carryout visitation and accreditation of all journalism-training institutions in the country. Towards this end, the Council has liaised with other statutory academic and technical training authorities such as the National Universities Commission and National Board for Technical Education.

The Research and Documentation Committee of the Council has taken inventory of all institutions offering Mass Communication in Nigeria and has drawn up guidelines for visitation and accreditation of all qualified journalism training institutions in the country. These guidelines have been published and circulated among journalism institutions throughout the country.

The power of the Nigerian Press Council to accredit journalism/mass communication training institutions in Nigeria derives from its enabling Law - Nigerian Press Council Act No. 85 of 1992.

Section 20 sets out the power of the Council to approve qualifications and institutions engaged in journalism/mass communication training while Section 21 prescribes the relationship of the Council with journalism/mass communication training institutions. For more information please see appendix (i). Consequently, the Council sets minimum standards for the professional content of journalism/mass communication training institutions in the country and to accredit their programmes, provided that accreditation of the qualification shall be in accordance with such guidelines as may be laid down and approved by the Council from time to time.

The purpose of the Council’s accreditation is as follows:

a. To regulate the training, education, media research and practice of journalism/mass communication in tertiary institutions in Nigeria;

b. To ensure that academically qualified and experienced lecturers, technicians, and technologists are engaged to teach, train and instruct journalism/mass communication students in both the practice and theories of mass communication;

c. To foster the achievement and maintenance of high professional standards in the institutions offering journalism/mass communication in Nigeria;

d. To ensure that Journalists trained in Nigeria acquire the necessary skills so as to allow them practice their profession any where in the world;

e. To ensure the strict adherence to Nigerian Press Organisation’s Code of Ethics in the lawful performance of their professional duties;

f. To establish and ensure vertical and horizontal uniformity in the maintenance of standards in the award of National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc. or Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in Journalism/Mass Communication;

g. To set a minimum admission standard for the training of journalists in Nigeria;

h. To assist institutions offering courses in Journalism/Mass Communication in capacity building and in the design of curricula relevant to the society;

i. To ensure that unaccredited Journalism/Mass Communication programmes are phased out in Nigeria.

j. To ensure compliance to any other prescription that would be made by the Council from time to time.

In the event of any postponement by an institution after the Council’s resource inspection and team had been duly invited, the institution responsible for the violation shall be responsible for the accommodation, feeding, transportation, honourarium and processing fee of the NPC Team for the recall.

A. Pre-Accreditation/Resource Inspection

1. Self study forms titled NPC forms A & B shall be sent to the institution for completion prior to visitation.
   
   
2. NPC Form A shall contain questionnaires about the institution while NPC Form B shall contain questionnaires about the programme to be accredited.
   
   
3. A resource inspection shall be conducted by Nigerian Press Council team prior to accreditation visitation
   

1. Members of the Nigerian Press Council Accreditation Committee
   
   
2. Selected Journalism/Mass Communication trainers/regulatory bodies such as Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors, National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
   

 

The Council is expected to work for a maximum of three days during which there shall be an exit interview at the end of the exercise with the Vice Chancellor, Rector, Principal, Provost and other principal officers of the institution.

It is mandatory for the Heads of Department, Dean, and Director of the Faculty or School to be present at the exit interview.

Others to be present shall include the Registrar, Librarian, Bursar and Director of Academic Planning and Media Attachment Liaison Officer wherever applicable.

At the exit interview, the NPC Team shall review their findings by identifying the deficiencies; strength and weaknesses observed during the visitation and shall make suggestions for remedies.

NPC Form

This form shall contain the summary of findings of the Nigerian Press Council Team and shall be jointly signed by the Vice Chancellor or Rector or Provost of the institution, in addition to the Head of Department and Dean.

The NPC Team shall also append their full names and signatures.
The Vice Chancellor or Rector or Provost shall be given the opportunity to make some brief oral and written comments before signing.

The final pronouncement as to whether the programme is granted or denied any type of accreditation shall be communicated to the Institution by the Council upon the review of the Panel’s Report. Finally, the approval shall be published in the Federal Government Gazette.

The NPC shall then issue a certificate of accreditation to the Institution, valid for three years.

Items to be examined during visitation shall include but not limited to the following:

Philosophy of Programme

The team shall establish if the philosophy of the programme is consistent with the development of training of middle and high levels manpower in journalism/mass communication to perform the constitutional obligations as contained in chapter II section 22 of the 1999 Constitution

Objective

Graduates of Journalism/Mass Communication Training Institutions shall at the end of course be able to write report and analyze issues according to the highest professional ethical standards. They are also to be socially responsible to the community where they practice their profession
.

Minimum requirements for admission into any of the programmes shall be the attainment of at least five credits in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, (SSCE); National Examination Council Certificate (NECO) at one or two sittings with a credit pass in English Language, Literature in English and a pass in Mathematics.

Curriculum – Course content

a. Curriculum

The Curriculum for each programme shall be adequate and not below the approved standard by the Council. It shall ensure that it prepares students at the various levels of their programmes by the acquisition of appropriate skills, sound theoretical and practical orientation to ensure competence in attaining requirements for specific job objectives. Therefore, members of the visiting team shall inspect documents such as individual course content, textbooks for the course, lecture notes, students work, admission files, student files; media log book and other relevant materials. The Council shall ensure that the curriculum satisfies the following:

1. That the curriculum content is understood by the lecturer teaching the course;
   
   
2. That the content of each course is adequate and similar to what obtains in other institutions;
   
   
3. That the mode of teaching the curriculum is effective and including tutorial, works studies, media attachment and students’ industrial work experience scheme (SIWES).
   
   
4. That skill acquired in this course and other professional attributes are adequate for their practice.

(b) Expectations

The aim is to ensure

(i) That the curriculum in use is adequate and similar to that of other institutions and shall be reviewed periodically.

(ii) That the teaching and learning strategies are directed towards attaining the goals and objectives such as stimulating experience and acquiring required skills that adequately would prepare the graduates for the challenges of the profession.

(iii) That students’ progress is monitored through internal and external control procedures such as the use of qualified and experienced external examiners.

(iv) That students internalize social, economic, cultural, political and societal values as well as knowledge of world affairs.

(c) Inter-relationship with other Departments:

Students must take elective courses from other departments to broaden their scope.

(d) Administration of the Department

(i) There shall be a Head of department whose first degree must be in journalism or mass communication.

(ii) For a National Diploma, the Head of Department must not be less than a Senior Lecturer in rank.

(iii) A Principal or Chief Lecturer is required for the position of a Head of Department for Higher National Diploma or an Associate/full Professor for the B.A/B.SC degree programme.

(iv) For the position of Head of Department as in ii & iii above, the
person should be qualified in the discipline of journalism and must have post qualification cognate experience and at least a Masters Degree in Journalism/Mass Communication.

(v) There shall be evidence in each teaching and non teaching staff’s file that indeed they possess the qualification so claimed.

(vi) That only students who meet the minimum admission requirements are admitted.

(vii) That the teaching and research facilities in the department are adequate in member, of good quality and well maintained.

(viii) That the students’ work is effectively supervised especially those relating to studio, laboratory, workshop, practical and projects.

(ix) That students’ academic and other records are properly kept and readily available to students and parents upon request.

(x) That the staff of the department exhibit high degree of Espirit de corps.

Teaching Staff – Number and Mix

The competence of teaching staff will determine the adequacy and quality of the programme. Thus:

(a) Staff Profile –

The teaching staff will be expected to possess at least a good first degree in the discipline of mass communication/journalism and professional relevant experience in addition to their competence in teaching and research.

(i) Academic Staff:

Membership of professional associations is mandatory for all teaching staff. The overall competence of the teaching staff may be assessed by factors such as:

(a) The level of academic/professional training.

(b) Cognate professional work, teaching and research experience.

(c) The extent to which they improve their own education in the relevant programme i.e. staff development.

(d) The degree of their participation in professional associations/societies which they belong.

(e) The existence and utilization of a staff development programme for the improvement of teaching, curriculum development and research.

(ii) Non Academic Staff:

The ratio of non academic staff to academic staff shall not be more than 1: 4 (i.e. one non-teaching to four teaching staff). Staff development scheme shall be available and utilized.

(b) Conditions for ND Accreditation:

The Council shall confirm that ND Programme lecturers have a minimum of a good first degree in the discipline. Membership of a professional registration body or their equivalent and post qualification cognate work, teaching and research experience are desirable.

(c) Conditions for HND Accreditation

The Council shall confirm that HND programme lecturers have in addition to the qualifications for ND programmes as stated above a post-graduate degree and/or cognate work or teaching experience.

(d) Conditions for B.Sc. /BA Accreditation:

The Council shall confirm that B.Sc. /BA Programme lecturers meet minimum standards as in B and C above.

There shall exist an Appointment and Promotion Board for the annual appraisal of both teaching/and non teaching staff.

Lecture Theatres/Classrooms – size and quality

There shall be lecture theatres, classrooms, studios and workshops that must
be adequate in number, size, quality and well maintained.

Staff Office Space – size and quality

Laboratories – size and quality

Each laboratory should be equipped with modern teaching and research tools, aids and equipment
Standard of Examination and Marking Schemes
External Examiners scheme shall be in existence. Every institution shall engage qualified External Examiner whose rank shall not less than a Senior Lecturer for the University and Chief Lecturer for the Polytechnic and Monotechnic. Each teaching staff must provide a marking scheme for the examination administered and shall provide a detailed course outline for the courses they teach.

Students Projects/Publications

Prospectus: Each department shall publish and distribute a comprehensive prospectus to students upon admission. It is mandatory for each institution to have students’ newspaper/magazine for their practical work.

The prospectus must contain the minimum credit for graduation as well as conditions for academic probation, withdrawal, expulsion and general information on discipline and conduct of students while on campus.

Staff/Students Ratio – shall be for skill courses 1:30 and Lecture courses 1:40

REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIMUM ACCREDITATION

1.

Laboratories	6
(a) News Room	1(Mandatory)
(b) Public Relations and Advertising laboratory	1 (Mandatory)
(c) Media Resource Centre	1 (Mandatory)
(d) Photo Journalism Laboratory or Dark Room	1 (Mandatory)
(e) Tape Laboratory	1 (Mandatory)
(f) Editing Laboratory	1 (Mandatory)

2.

Studios	2
(a) Radio Studio (with proper acoustics)	1 (Mandatory)
(b) Television Studio (with proper acoustics)	1 (Mandatory)
(c) Radio Sets	4 (Mandatory)
(d) Television Monitors	4 (Mandatory)
(e) Press Room	1(Optional)

3.

Newsroom	1(Mandatory)
(a) Print Workshop	1(Optional)
(b) Press Room	1 (Optional)

4.

Reference Library

1 (Mandatory)

5. Students Projects – (Mandatory) depends on number of students

6. External Examiner’s Report – (Mandatory)

7. Sanitation, Environment and Safety: There shall be at least one fire extinguisher per room, two per laboratory and one per hall way or one sand bucket per room and hall way.

• Toilets: A minimum of one toilet to 10 users.
• Environmental: Must be conducive
  

8. Academic Staff Ratio: Quality and Quantity : - At least Six full time lecturers not below lecturer III of which one must be a senior lecturer with a minimum of a B.Sc./BA degree in Journalism or Mass Communication for National Diploma (ND) programme and at least 12 twelve full time lecturers of which one must be a Chief Lecturer for Higher National Diploma (HND).

9. For Universities: A minimum of 12 lecturers not below lecturer II of which one must be a Professor or an Associate Professor with a minimum of a Master’s degree in Journalism/Mass Communication

10. Computer room: - A minimum of 30 Computers for ND and 60 for HND and Degree programme.

11. Admission Intake: Shall not go beyond the carrying capacity of the institution as determined by the NUC and NBTE.

12. Students Internship:- Mandatory one year in between the ND and HND programme and media attachment for the University for between 300 hours or 3 months.

13. Examination Malpractice procedure: Must be available, well structured and with rapid results.

14. Teaching of Core/Foundation Courses shall be handled by senior academic staff.

15. Sporting Facilities shall be available and made compulsory for students to participate in sports at least once a week.

16. Relationship between the Department and the Faculty or school: Electives from other departments must be taken by students.

17. Acquisition of Books shall compulsory and shall include (both local and international journals.
In compliance to NUC, NBTE and various Universities and Authorities no lecturer shall force any student to buy handouts, books or journals. The NPC believes that a good book will sale itself.

18. Linkage with other Journalism/Mass Communication Training Institutions where applicable: Compulsory.

19. Membership of Professional Associations by both Academic and Non Academic staff: required; i.e. It is mandatory for a Lecturer to be an active member of at least two professional associations.

20. Staff Office Space for Academic and Non-Academic:
Number and Size: - Adequate, both in number and quantity i.e. a senior lecturer to one room, moderately furnished with air conditioner, fan, chairs, cabinet, etc.

21. Teaching aids. There shall be a minimum of four overhead projectors: - Two photocopiers, one of which must be in the Head of Department’s office. Each student shall have a Tape Recorder, empty cassettes, tapes, white board one per classroom etc. are compulsory and the name of the department inscribed on them.