The deregistration of Educor’s institutions has thrown the lives of countless students into chaos, forcing them to confront a grim future.
In an unprecedented and heart-wrenching move that left thousands of students reeling, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) announced the deregistration of four institutions owned by Educor, South Africa’s largest private education provider.
The decision made public on March 22, 2024, via a government gazette by DHET’s Director-General Nkosinathi Sishi, has not only sent shockwaves through the education sector but also ignited a wave of anger and despair among those most affected—students and staff.
Educor, a behemoth in the private education industry, operates well-known institutions such as Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus, and Lyceum College. But behind its expansive reach and polished facade, a storm was brewing—one that has now left thousands of students like Bongani Sibanda in dire straits.
Bongani Sibiya, stranded in Johannesburg with no way to return home to Rustenburg, faced the cold reality of eviction. “I couldn’t just go home without knowing what was happening with my studies,” he shared, frustration and desperation evident in his voice. His landlord, unsympathetic to his plight, showed no mercy. “I was evicted and ended up crashing at a friend’s place for a day,” Bongani recounted, a mixture of anger and helplessness colouring his words.
Over 60 campuses nationwide, once bustling with hopeful students, now stand as symbols of broken promises. Beneath the company’s expansive portfolio of ten educational brands lay a series of compliance failures that have now unraveled, leaving thousands in a precarious situation.
Kenny Diamond, a Damelin graduate, couldn’t hide his anger as he reflected on his time at the institution. “The decision to deregister should have come long ago,” he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Even though my qualification is recognized, the quality of teaching and learning was poor.” His words echoed the sentiments of many who had endured years of subpar education, only to see their worst fears realized.
The shockwaves of Educor’s downfall didn’t stop with the students. Staff members, who dedicated years to these institutions, now find themselves in similarly dire straits.
Ndumiso Mhlanga, an employee at one of the Educor colleges, described the dismal working conditions they endured. “It became the norm for us to receive our salaries very late—sometimes we were underpaid, or worse, not paid at all,” he revealed, his frustration palpable. “There was a lack of proper administrative support, and it felt like we were abandoned.”
These labour issues only add to the already complex and dire situation, highlighting the profound human cost of Educor’s failures. On November 22, 2023, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) issued a statement expressing deep concern over the treatment of staff, particularly at Damelin College. Delayed payments, unaddressed grievances, and unjust contract terminations painted a bleak picture of an institution on the brink.
The troubles for Educor began as early as 2020, when the DHET first noticed the group’s failure to submit its annual financial certificates and reports—a critical requirement for the continued registration of private education institutions.
Despite repeated warnings, including a stern reprimand in 2022, Educor failed to comply with these obligations. The gravity of the situation unraveled in July 2023 when the DHET issued a notice of cancellation of registration, giving Educor until September 26, 2023, to lodge an appeal.
In a bid to rectify the situation, Educor sought and was granted an extension until February 28, 2024. However, the group again failed to meet the deadline, leaving the DHET with no choice but to proceed with deregistration.
On March 26, 2024, during a media briefing, the former Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, emphasized that the cancellation was not an abrupt decision but a consequence of ongoing non-compliance. Nzimande made it clear that the DHET had given Educor ample time to address the issues, but the group’s repeated failures left the department with no alternative and yet still requested another extension.
For students like Momosa Kopi, the aftermath has been a nightmare. Momosa, a student from Damelin’s correspondence college, was fortunate to be transferred to another institution that recognized her credits. But not everyone was so lucky. Many students pursuing a direct Damelin qualification found themselves at a dead end, their academic dreams shattered.
The sudden deregistration has profoundly impacted students, leaving them angry, confused, and uncertain about their future.
Educor was required to inform all enrolled students within 14 days of the cancellation notice and assist them in finding alternative institutions. But for students like Bongani Sibanda, these promises rang hollow.
Bongani Sibiya, a second-year student whose registration was cancelled, had often heard whispers that Educor colleges operated like fly-by-night institutions. Now, facing the harsh reality, his anger is palpable. “By the time I wanted to transfer, I thought about all the money I had spent and couldn’t bring myself to just let it all go,” he lamented.
Asive Dlanjwa, spokesperson for the SA Union of Students, clarified that students who obtained their qualifications from an institution during the period of accreditation should not be affected. He explained that if the institution was legally registered and offered certified and updated courses that met the requirements of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), students who completed their qualifications within that timeframe should not face any issues.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, Kutloano Umanji, a recent IT graduate, explained that despite the Department of Higher Education announcing the deregistration earlier this year, students who completed their courses in 2023 were surprisingly still allowed to graduate in May 2024.
Umanji revealed that among her peers whose studies were interrupted, none of those directly enrolled in Damelin courses were able to transfer their credits and continue their studies elsewhere. Some students unknowingly took non-accredited and outdated courses, only discovering this when they faced difficulties in transferring their credits. As she put it: “most of them started all over or changed to a new course”.
She reflected on her time at the institution, noting that it was not the best experience. She cited instances where they would randomly not have lecturers, leaving students without academic guidance. Moreover, she felt that the institution only addressed student concerns when they were pushed to do so.
Despite receiving his academic transcript, Bongani faced a major setback when he couldn’t transfer his credits to another college. Advised to either start a new course or find another institution offering the same qualification, he found the task nearly impossible. “I’ve decided to give my studies another chance in the 2025 academic year,” he shared, a mix of determination and frustration in his voice.
During the media briefing, the former minister of DHET highlighted that his department has in the past received numerous complaints from students against the Educor institutions.
Many of those issues till today remain unsolved. Sibiya told Wits Vuvuzela that he gave up on pursuing reimbursement for his fees because it was nearly impossible to follow up, even when the institutions were still operational.
The Department of Higher Education has also offered to assist students from Educor’s colleges in finding alternative institutions where they can continue and complete their qualifications.
FEATURED IMAGE: The four Educor brands that were deregistered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Photo: Salim Nkosi
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