How the Educor saga could affect skills development in SA
Zain Johnson speaks to Prof. John Foster-Pedley, the ean and director of Henley Business School, Africa and vice- chair of SABSA.
Damelin College campus in Braamfontein. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/Eyewitness News
The de-registration of Damelin and City Varsity could have a severe effect on skills development in South Africa.
That's according to one business expert, in the wake of the deregistration of several colleges in the Educor group.
The Department of Higher Education made this decision due to Educor's failure to provide audited financial statements for 2021 and 2022, violating the Higher Education Act.
Educor has previously faced warnings in 2022 for failing to submit financial records for 2020.
Minister Blade Nzimande cited numerous complaints from students, including issues with teaching quality, administrative support, staff qualifications, corruption, and non-payment of salaries.
Experts say the fallout underlines the need for accountability and corrective action from Educor's leadership to address governance and compliance failures.
"If you're running a business, you have to be compliant with the Business Act and Companies Act and regulation requirements. It's fundamental...you cannot not be handing in your financial statements. You can't mess around with your governance."
-Prof John Foster-Pedley, Dean and director of Henley Business School, Africa
Foster-Pedley says new players are coming into the private education sector because the sector is not delivering effectively.
"According to Minister Nzimande, out of 100 who start school in SA, only four get a degree within six years of leaving school. We have to change the education process by producing education opportunities for the South African populace who are capable and clever people. That's important for them to build businesses and build our economy."
-Prof John Foster-Pedley, Dean and director of Henley Business School, Africa
Students who've graduated from these defunct colleges could face several challenges in the work place over the recognition and validity of their degrees.
"Employers will question whether they really have the qualifications because they come from these de-registered institutions. We're talking about people who come from a society who have not had access to decent education through their lives so they've put everything they got into their education."
-Prof John Foster-Pedley, Dean and director of Henley Business School, Africa
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