Bogus institutions which are also known as “fly-by-night’’ or “unregistered institutions’’ are institutions that are not registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to offer post school qualifications as required by law. These institutions may not have accreditation by the quality councils for the courses they offer. This means that such institutions are operating illegally.
Remember, an institution may be registered with the DHET, but not accredited to offer some of the qualifications they claim to offer. It is therefore very important for everyone wishing to study at any institution to ensure that the institution is registered and accredited to offer the qualification that they are interested to study.
What do we mean by institutions must be registered and accredited.
There are different types of education and training institutions in South Africa.
Public higher education and training institutions are state-funded and established by the DHET by means of legislation and because they are established by law, they are deemed to be registered.
In accordance with the Higher Education Act (1997), private higher education and training institutions (both Higher Education Institutions and Colleges), of which many provide legitimate and valuable qualifications, are privately funded and are required by law to register with the DHET.
The aim of registering private Higher Education Institutions and colleges is to protect the students and the public. The Department hopes to achieve this aim by registering or licensing private institutions that:
- Offer qualifications that are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF),
- Have the capacity, resources and expertise to offer quality education and training,
- Offer programmes that comply with the quality assurance requirements and criteria and
- Adheres to ethical business practices
Registration as an institution simply means the legal authority or license granted by the Director General, as the Registrar of Private institutions of learning, to a private Higher Education Institution or College to offer training.
What does accreditation mean?
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competence, authority or credibility is presented, usually for a particular period of time, to a body or an institution as having the capacity to fulfil a particular function within the quality assurance system set up by the NQF Act. Accreditation implies that an institution is certified to offer a specific qualification which is registered on the NQF. Therefore, an institution has to be accredited to offer a specific qualification or training. Training providers are required to be accredited by the relevant Quality Councils (QC) to offer training in different qualifications and levels respectively. The three QCs responsible for accreditation of training providers are:
- Council on Higher Education (CHE): CHE oversees qualifications from NQF level 5 to NQF level 10.
- Quality Council for Trades and Occupation (QCTO): Accredits providers to offer trade related qualifications such as the N4 to N6 Diplomas. It has also delegated the accrediting authority to the SETAs who offer qualifications and part qualifications registered on NQF level 1 to 8 of the NQF.
- Umalusi: Accredits private providers of education and training as well as private assessment bodies to offer tuition and/or assessment for qualification(s) on the General and Further Education and Training (GET) Qualification Framework for qualifications registered on NQF level 1- 4 Umalusi accredits institutions such as independent schools/private schools, private colleges (former private FET colleges and private adult learning centres).
Please note that public providers such as public universities, adult learning centres and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are not required to seek accreditation. Therefore learners need to verify if a private institution is registered as an institution of learning by DHET and if it is accredited to offer a specific qualification that they may want to register for with the QCs respectively.
What should learners know before enrolling to study at private institutions?
Before you register for any qualification, it is crucial to ensure that you fully understand both the registration and accreditation status of the institution you want to study with. Registration and accreditation are two different procedures and have different implications.
What causes learners to fall prey to “Bogus Institutions” and what can others do to avoid the trap?
A lot of our learners out there are not aware of these procedures and that they need to verify the institutions before enrolling for any course. Often these institutions seem legit at the eyes of the public; because of minor and sometimes very valid things that the public can be misled on. Such as the adverts, courses names, infrastructure and even claim to have “registration and accreditation numbers”.
The other reason that most learners find themselves in the situation is simply because of lack of planning. They do not apply on time which then leads to being rejected by legit higher education and training institutions. They are then easily drawn into taking any option that is available out of desperation and guess what; most “bogus institutions” are always open to admit learners anytime and at lowered admission requirements compared to what is frequently required.
Learners are encouraged to apply on time for admission, hence the DHET is running the APPLY NOW! Campaign throughout the Country. If a learner did not perform well both in their grade 12 or other entry level qualifications, they are advised and encouraged to seek genuine and legit remedial steps or processes that will enable them to effectively progress career wise.
What is the disadvantage of studying through bogus institutions?
When one study in one of the bogus institutions, the certificates they obtain are not even qualifications, and are not recognize as such. These certificates do not allow for access, mobility, progression, career pathing and personal development. As a result, students and parents invest their time, money and other valuable resources in a qualification which is not legitimate and has no real value within the workplace. This means these students cannot find jobs and will have to do another qualification which is accredited, something which most students and parents cannot afford to do.
Bogus institutions turn to promise much more than they can deliver and take advantage of young people's eagerness to attain qualifications. The learner's desperation makes them fall prey of bogus colleges.
How do learners check if an institution operates legally?
Learners can ask at the institution they intend to study with for proof or registration or ask for their registration number or accreditation number. If the institution is registered it will have a certificate with a registration number clearly showing that they are registered with the Department. However; obtaining this information from the institution only is not enough, learners should then verify this information by checking the DHET register of private institutions on the DHET website (www.dhet.gov.za) or contact DHET call center on 0800 872 222:There are three registers:
- Accredited Skills Development Providers
- Register of Private Colleges
- Register of Private Higher Education Institutions
Alternatively; contact Career Development Services Helpline for further assistance.
What can students do when they find out that they are studying at an unregistered institution or that their qualification is not accredited?
I would like to urge parents and students to call the DHET call center on 0800 872 222 to find out what the procedure should be thereafter.
If it turns out that your qualification is in fact not legitimate, de-register immediately and ask for a refund. Inform the DHET, the Quality Councils, Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA’s) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately. They will then assist you to embark on the necessary legal process to get a refund.
See our contact details below:
Telephone: 086 999 0123
Please call me / sms: 072 204 5056
Fax: 012 323 1138
Email: careerhelp@dhet.gov.za
Website: www.careerhelp.org.za
National Career Advice Portal (NCAP): http://ncap.careerhelp.org.za/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/careerhelp
Compiled by Ntsoaki Kala