Governo extingue ARES por considerar que agência não cumpriu missão de garantir qualidade – ministro

**Cabo Verde Government to Dissolve Higher Education Regulatory Agency (ARES)**

The government of Cabo Verde has announced the dissolution of the Higher Education Regulatory Agency (ARES), citing the agency’s failure to fulfill its mandate. Arnaldo Brito, the Minister of Education, Higher Education, Science and Innovation, stated that six years after its creation, the agency failed to establish a National Quality Assurance System, which he described as a fundamental tool for the agency’s operation.

“We reached the conclusion that ARES did not fulfill its role; it was far from fulfilling its role,” Minister Brito said. He further alleged that the agency failed to provide the country with the necessary national standards to ensure the quality of higher education.

According to the Minister, the Directorate-General for Higher Education had developed significant groundwork for a National Quality Assurance System prior to 2015, but this work was set aside following the establishment of ARES.

The decision to dissolve the agency is part of a broader government effort to rationalize public resources, which the Minister described as “extremely limited.” The government aims to avoid the duplication of structures and prioritize more efficient administrative bodies.

Under the new organizational structure of the Ministry of Education, which is expected to be published shortly, the Directorate-General for Higher Education, Science and Innovation will be strengthened and will assume the functions previously held by ARES. Additionally, a consultative Council for Quality will be established to work alongside the Directorate-General to support higher education regulation.

Minister Brito dismissed concerns regarding the transfer of regulatory functions back to the state, noting that several countries, including Brazil, France, and Senegal, manage higher education regulation directly through their respective ministries of education.

Addressing reports regarding a lack of communication with ARES board members, the Minister stated that they were formally notified of the decision and that he had held meetings with the institution’s leadership. “To say they were not informed is not true; they were informed,” he asserted.

Regarding the agency’s staff, the Minister confirmed that employees will be integrated into the Directorate-General for Higher Education, adding that he expects the transition process to proceed smoothly.

Article and image source: expressodasilhas.cv