Minister warns of dodgy colleges
HIGHER Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande has warned students and parents to be wary of “fly-by-night” colleges.
Illegal colleges that are not registered as institutions of learning do surface during this period, when unsuspecting pupils are desperate for spaces to further their studies.
According to the department, the “fly-by-night” colleges are those institutions that are not registered with the correct Sector Education and Training Authorities, the Department of Higher Education and Training or other relevant bodies.
Nzimande said these institutions lured and misled future students into believing that they offered qualifications that are recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority.
“Fly-by-night colleges are illegal colleges offering compromised qualifications that are not recognised for employment purposes or further study, Nzimande said.
“The department has been successful in shutting down these illegal operators.”…the number of colleges that are operating illegally has decreased tremendously over the years.
“The decrease can be attributed to our monitoring awareness campaigns and our collaboration with both print and electronic media,” added Nzimande.
The minister also said that the department was working closely with law enforcement agencies to close down these colleges.
He advised students who wanted to enrol at private colleges to verify the status of these institutions with the department through its toll-free number on 0800 872 222.