The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), an agency of the Ministry of Education and Youth has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 certification, a system of internationally recognised standards that enhance quality service delivery.

The ministry said NCEL’s ISO standardisation process, which began under the stewardship of the former director/principal, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, is the result of an intense 15-month process involving a whole staff approach of team members who were engaged in several activities to promote the standardisation of all policies, processes and operations of the college.

“This success is also the result of team members being trained as internal auditors and who were provided with the requisite skills and knowledge to lead internal audits prior to the college’s participation in the ISO audit processes (stages 1 and 2), and thereafter receiving certification,” said the ministry in a news release.

The incumbent acting director/principal of NCEL, Winnie Berry said the certification forms part of the college’s thrust to improve its overall performance and to provide a base for sustainable development initiatives.

“The college is charged with the responsibility to design, develop and implement leadership interventions and initiatives that are geared at promoting leadership excellence and sustained improvements in student and school performance,” said Berry.

“This accreditation is a step in the right direction as it endorses the inculcation of systems and procedures that are aligned with the college’s vision of becoming an internationally recognised organisation that ensures the preparation and continued development of high-quality educational leaders,” Berry added.

According to Berry, the implementation of the quality management system is not only a response to quality service (as one of NCEL’s core values), but to ensure the college is on the cusp of exceptional product development and service delivery while meeting the needs of its stakeholders.

“This certification will, among other things, serve to further strengthen the college’s thrust to optimise service and make quality a culture in the educational leadership landscape,” she said.