Cap. 25:27 Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act No. 1/2006 16 Declaration of institutions of higher education The Minister may, with the advice of the Council and by notice in the Gazette, declare any(a) government educational institution operating under the Education Act [Chapter 25:04] or to the Manpower Development Act [Chapter 28:02]; (b) statutory body; offering degrees as to be an institution of higher education. 17 Closure or merger of public institutions of higher education (1) If at any time the Council is satisfied that a public institution of higher education has failed to discharge its functions in terms of the enactment under which it was established, and that is in the interest of higher education in Zimbabwe generally for the institution concerned to be merged or to be closed, the Council may recommend to the Minister any one or more of the following(a) a merger of the institution with any other institution; or (b) the closure of the institution; or (c) the repeal of the enactment under which the institution was established: Provided that, before submitting its advice to the Minister, the Council shall afford the governing body of the institution of concerned an opportunity to make representations in the matter and shall forward any such representations to the Minister together with its recommendations. (2) The Minister shall submit to the President any recommendations and representations received by him or her in terms of this section, together with any recommendations that he or she may wish to make in the matter: Provided that, before submitting any such recommendations or representations to the President, the Minister may require the Council to conduct such further inquiry or make such further investigation into the matter as he or she may specify. (3) If the President is satisfied that it is in the interests of higher education in Zimbabwe generally for the institution of higher education to merge or to be closed, the President may signify in writing his or her approval of the merger or closure of the institution specifying the date from which the institution of higher education shall merge or cease to operate: Provided that the merger or closure of the institution shall not affect the validity of any certificate, diplomas, degrees or other academic qualifications conferred or awarded by the institution of higher education concerned before that date. PART V INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS AND ACCREDITATION 16 Publication of institutional quality assurance standards and evaluation of institutions (1) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Council, prescribe the institutional quality assurance standards that will govern the performance, operations and general conduct of all institutions of higher education. - 11 -