Media Releases

Students Warned Against Fly-By-Night Qualifications

Cape Town, July 19, 2006: In response to the news this week that the unregistered Cape Town Business College had closed down indefinitely during a week-long vacation, Dr Paul Steyn, Academic Head of Educor - the largest provider of private education in South Africa - warned all potential learners to insist on information about the accreditation status of an educational institution before registering.

According to Steyn, a college cannot open and offer accredited courses if not registered by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA). "The fact that three lecturers from the now closed Cape Town Business College have opened another institution is compounding SA's problem of fly-by-night tertiary institutions. Students suffer and ultimately our country's skills shortage is not addressed. Graduating from fly-by-night institutions arms students with a useless qualification which is not recognised by employers or other tertiary institutions."

Institutions have until next year to register with the Department of Education (DoE) as further education and training (FET) institutions. A condition of this is accreditation with the Skills Education Training Authority (SETA) or UMALUSI - the quality assurer in the general and further education and training bands of the national qualifications framework (NQF).

A list of registered and currently accredited colleges can be supplied by the DoE. "The Association of Private Providers of Education, Training and Development (APPETD), South Africa will also gladly assist in the providing of education, as all members have to be registered," said Steyn.

"It's commendable that the ex-lecturers of Cape Town Business College are passionate enough about education to open another institution, but has the newly formed tertiary institution been registered and is it financially viable?" said Steyn.

"What have these students signed up for? The institution clearly cannot offer accredited courses."

Steyn also recommends choosing an educational institution with a proven history and sound backing. "Enrolling with a reputable tertiary institution guarantees a student accredited education - the backing of an established organisation serves as a second guarantee. The Educor Group is backed by national media goup, Naspers and exercises a policy of full compliance for all of its colleges, which include INTEC, Damelin and City Varsity.