DHET challenges Educor over misleading claims about registration status
The DHET has refuted the statement made by Educor’s COO claiming that the institution’s registration status has been fully reinstated.
Despite Educor’s COO claiming last week that the institution’s registration status had been fully reinstated following deregistration, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) disputes this assertion.
Educor registration status
Educor comprises several private colleges including City Varsity, ICESA City Campus, Lyceum College, and Damelin.
The government deregistered Educor due to significant operational issues, such as the grading students based on unmarked scripts. The institution furthermore did not provide tax clearance certificates or annual financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022, according to capetownetc.
The institution’s COO Michael Thurley stated last week that registration had been fully restored. He added that all courses remain fully accredited and recognised by the department and the South African Qualifications Authority.
However, the DHET has clarified that this is not the full truth. It has not fully reinstated the registration of Educor. It emphasised that Educor’s registration remains provisional and is subject to certain conditions.
The DHET stated that Educor’s statement fails to accurately represent the nature of their reinstatement.
What does the DHET provisional reinstatement entail?
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, provisionally reinstated Educor’s registration based on humanitarian considerations to mitigate disruptions for current students, who have faced challenges such as abrupt campus closures and unresolved staff pay issues.
However, this reinstatement is subject to various conditions including that Educor must fully comply with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) accreditation requirements before commencing any teaching and learning activities.
Additionally, Educor must submit comprehensive monthly reports to the DHET. These reports must include detailed financial statements, student enrolment statistics, and progress updates on compliance with CHE accreditation standards.
The DHET emphasised that the temporary reinstatement does not give up any of the Department’s rights and powers under the Higher Education Act. It also does not cancel any ongoing legal actions.
Teachers not paid
Earlier this month, teachers at Educor’s private institution, City Varsity, in Cape Town complained that the company has not paid them for two months – August and September. They added that this is not the first time that this has happened.
“Despite numerous efforts by staff and unions to get communication on the matter, we have been met with either vague response or utter silence.”
City Varsity staff at the Roeland Street campus