Four private colleges labelled as “dysfunctional” are mandated to cease operations in South Africa, leaving numerous students uncertain about their academic future.
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande cited fabricated exam results and various other concerns as reasons for the closures.
The education department highlighted the colleges’ failure to produce audited financial statements since 2020.
These institutions are under the ownership of Educor, a major private education entity in southern Africa.
Operating across more than 60 campuses in South Africa and abroad, Educor manages several educational institutions, including Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus, and Lyceum College spread across the nation.
These colleges have been instructed to halt operations by the year’s end. Following an extensive investigation, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande identified significant issues within these institutions, branding them as “dysfunctional” due to unresolved complaints from both students and staff.
Among the grievances cited were subpar teaching quality, inadequate administrative support, and unprofessional conduct.
Allegations of salary non-payment, corruption, and falsified student enrollment figures also surfaced, indicating a decline in actual student numbers compared to reported figures.
Furthermore, instances of fabricated examination marks were uncovered, a grave offence according to Minister Nzimande.
These colleges failed to submit audited financial statements and obtain tax clearance, raising doubts about their financial stability.
The Department of Higher Education and Training initiated the deregistration process in July 2023, culminating in the recent decision. Over 13,000 students are impacted, with some facing accommodation challenges.
Affected students are advised to seek enrollment at alternative institutions, while concerned parents demand refunds for tuition fees.
The deregistration received support from the South African Union of Students and the South African Federation of Trade Unions, highlighting long-standing mistreatment of employees and students by Educor.
