Police raids on private colleges

Media statement by Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande on police raids on private colleges

25 May 2010

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande welcomes the police raids on unregistered private colleges in Pretoria and Johannesburg and the arrests of operators of these institutions.

We have been concerned by the activities of some private education institutions which constitute fraud and criminal offences. The Department of Higher Education and Training has been working with the police in their investigations into reported cases of alleged fraudulent activities by some private education institutions.

The operation of private institutions without registration was outlawed in June 2005 but many fly-by-night colleges continue to operate and attract thousands of students every year.

Since 2005, the department received a total of 935 applications for registration as further education and training (FET) colleges across provinces. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape account for 464, 175 and 134 respectively of the total received applications, while the other six provinces constitute the remaining 163 applications.

The department's own investigations based on students' complaints have revealed that the majority of institutions not registered are located Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

Minister Nzimande recently met Association of Private Providers of Education, Training and Development (APPETD) to discuss the problem of illegal colleges and institutions which offer courses which are not registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. He also expressed his concern about the quality of courses offered which are not registered.

"We cannot taint all private colleges as some are abiding by the law and offering good quality courses. However these colleges are being discredited by the fly-by-night institutions which exploit people who are desperate for education and training qualifications. For this reason, government will continue to make sure that illegal operators are flushed out," Minister Nzimande said.

The Department of Higher Education and Training established a Stakeholder Forum comprising the National Prosecuting Authority, APPETD, the Council on Higher Education, Umalusi and the South African Qualifications Authority, among others, to work together with the police to enforce the regulation of private FET colleges.

Institutions which are closed down for non-registration should remain closed until they are registered as private FET colleges. Equally important is that institutions may not operate if their applications for the registration are pending. Students who are victims of illegally operating institutions which have been closed down should act to claim legal compensation from those institutions.

The Department of Higher Education and Training will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies, including police, by providing them with information that they may require for purposes of investigation and prosecution of any private institutions throughout the country that may be contravening the laws that regulate private FET colleges.

Minister Nzimande urges students and parents to verify the registration status of institutions with the Department of Higher Education and Training before enrolling for courses.

Registration can be verified on the department's website, http://www.education.gov.za or by calling 012 312 5878. Enquiries can also be made by fax at 012 323 8817.

Contact:
Ranjeni Munusamy
Tel: 012 312 5555 or 021 465 5513
Cell: 072 571 2812
E-mail: munusamy.r@dhet.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Higher Education and Training
25 May 2010