Four private colleges in South Africa labelled as ‘dysfunctional’ have been ordered to shut down, leaving thousands of students uncertain about their academic future. These colleges, owned by Educor, one of the largest private education providers in southern Africa, have faced allegations of fabricating exam results and other serious issues, according to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.
The affected institutions, Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus, and Lyceum College, spread across the country, have been instructed to cease operations by the end of the year.
Minister Nzimande highlighted various complaints from students and staff, including poor teaching quality, administrative deficiencies, and allegations of non-payment of salaries and corruption.
Furthermore, Educor allegedly inflated its student enrollment numbers to mask declining figures, and some students’ exam marks were reportedly falsified, compromising academic integrity.
Despite ongoing investigations and warnings from the Department of Higher Education and Training since July 2023, the final decision to deregister these colleges was made recently.
Over 13,000 students will be impacted by the closure, with some facing accommodation challenges. Education authorities are advising affected students to transfer to alternative institutions.
Parents, seeking clarity and refunds for tuition fees, have been visiting the colleges, while the South African Union of Students and the South African Federation of Trade Unions have expressed support for the deregistration, citing concerns about mistreatment of employees and students by Educor.