Department of Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Buti Manamela kicked off his national awareness campaign against bogus colleges in Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon.
The minister visited Rosebank College, Richfield Graduate Institute and Bristol Training College. He also checked if the colleges are compliant with the laws set by Department of Higher education and Training and if they offered programs as the ones they have advertised.
He also made a plea to private education providers that if they want to do business or offer education in the country they should firstly make sure that they are registered.
Manamela further said “I want to make a plea to parents and prospective learners both in basic and higher education to ensure that you check if those institutions are registered and if the courses they offer are accredited which will help you to avoid being robbed of your money and being given fake qualifications. “Said Manamela
He will be continuing to visit bogus colleges and where they find colleges that are operating illegally they will work with the police, prosecution authorities to make sure their closed down until the time when they are compliant.
The department has been receiving complaints from the public who claim that they have getting to colleges that were not registered and operating illegally. He advised members of the public if they visit colleges and their unable to produce registration certificate they should visit the department and they will contact the college, they will make sure that the college is compliant.
Bristol College had an expired health and safety certificate from Sita which expired in 2021 but the owner is working on getting a new certificate he told the college to stop circulating pamphlets because it misrepresents what the college is offering including the certificate and Diplomas.
