The Memorandum of Understanding by Commonwealth Governments that established COL in 1988 provides for a Board of Governors with general responsibility for determining the principles, policies and priorities that guide COL in its activities. 

The Board has provision for up to 17 members, consisting of the Chair, up to nine major donor representatives, regional representatives from the four regions of the Commonwealth, as well as the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Secretary-General’s appointee and the President of COL (ex-officio). This provides for regional spread complemented with rotation of representation.

In fulfilment of its accountability to Member States, COL reports to the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and to the foreign ministers at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings (CHOGM).

Current Membership of the Board of Governors

COL Board of Governors meeting in Burnaby, BC, Canada (June 2016)

Back row, left to right: 
Deodat Maharaj (representing Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland), 
K. Balasubramanian, Hubert Charles, Emma Kruse Va'ai, Lockwood Smith and Rob Whitby

Front row, left to right: 
Narend Baijnath, Atta-ur-Rahman, Linda Sissons (Chair),
Asha Kanwar (President and CEO), Janet Ecker, Mariam Katagum and Martin Bean.

Not present in photo: 
Danny Faure and Vinay Sheel Oberoi