Educor qualifications remain valid: DHE

The Department of Higher Education has assured students and potential employers that qualifications obtained from the four deregistered Educor colleges remain valid and recognised.

This will only apply to qualifications issued or obtained during the period of registration and the phase-out period.

Four Educor colleges, City Varsity, Damelin, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum will have to shut their doors at the end of next year over non-compliance.

Educor is also alleged to have misrepresented the number of students enrolled at its private institutions, claiming to have 50 000 students in the system, while reports indicate that it only enrolled 13 096.

The mother body of the four institutions in the ye of the storm has been facing financial difficulties since 2020.

The incident has sparked fear among many students who are worried about their future.

Some say they are worried they wont get their money back in the wake of having to find alternative places to study.

However, Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says they shouldn’t worry.

He says students will be allowed to continue with their studies and they will be slowly phased out by the end of next year.

The department says the colleges still have an obligation to award the students their qualifications from now until the phaseout period.

“The four Educor colleges are also required to ensure that they conclude the remaining examinations or assessments for the remainder of the current academic year.”

The department is steadfast in its decision to deregister the colleges, saying it still stands.

It has also issued a stern warning to other private institutions, saying government will not hesitate to remove them should they willfully violate conditions set out for them.

DHE says it was also inundated with complaints from students and staff at the various Educor colleges, including:

• Poor quality of teaching and learning;
• Lack of proper administrative support
•  Poorly qualified staff
• Corruption and bribery
•  Lack of response for requests for refunds
• Lack of professionalism
• Exploitation of poor students
•  Non-payment of staff salaries
•  Under-payment of staff salaries