Thousands of Educor students are facing uncertainty as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has deregistered four private colleges. These colleges failed to provide evidence of their financial viability, which has left students in a state of limbo about their future. The situation is urgent and requires immediate attention to ensure that students are not negatively impacted.
The Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande announced the deregistration of City Varsity (Pty) Ltd, Damelin (Pty) Ltd, Icesa City Campus (Pty) Ltd, and Lyceum College (Pty) Ltd during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday. Nzimande stated that these four private institutions failed to comply with the requirements of the 2016 Regulations for the Registration of Private Higher Education Institutions and the relevant sections of the Higher Education Act.
The four failed to submit financial statements and tax clearance for the 2021 and 2022 financial years as proof of their financial viability and were required to lodge an appeal with the minister on or before 26 September 2023. The institutions then asked for a deadline extension to 28 February 2024. “They then requested an extension to 28 February 2024, and are now seeking a further extension. In addition to failing to submit evidence of their financial viability to the department, the four Educor brands can be deemed as dysfunctional and this is mainly measured against the daily complaints and grievances received from students, most of which remain unresolved,” Nzimande said.
Nzimande said this is in reference to complaints from staff and students. Students are reportedly unhappy with the teaching quality, administrative support, and staff qualifications. There are also allegations of corruption, lack of professionalism, and refund issues.
Staff are reportedly not being paid on time, and students from low-income backgrounds feel exploited. These problems extend to colleges like INTEC College (Pty) Ltd and Damelin Correspondence College (Pty) Ltd, overseen by the QCTO. Even SETA-accredited programs are affected.
The Higher Education Quality Committee has withdrawn accreditation from programs at City Varsity (Pty) Ltd, Damelin (Pty) Ltd, and Lyceum College (Pty) Ltd.
While the department has given the institutions until the end of 2025 to phase out students, the question of where these students will go remains. However, there is a ray of hope. The Independent Institute of Education (IIE – the higher education division of ADvTECH) has expressed its readiness to assist the students, offering a potential solution to their uncertain future.
Speaking to The Daily Maverick on Tuesday, former AdvTech CEO Roy Douglas said they would do whatever it takes to help the stranded students. “Our commitment is not only to our own students but also to the sustainability, growth and development of higher education in South Africa as a whole.
“We are therefore preparing to assist and support as many impacted students as possible,” said Douglas.
