The growth of private colleges issuing unaccredited qualifications is a concern, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training heard on Thursday.
Umalusi’s Executive Manager, Quality Assurance and Monitoring, Ms Zodwa Modimakwane, told the Committee that private schools and colleges are required to apply for accreditation from Umalusi, in terms of the National Qualifications Framework Act no 67 of 2008, Section 27(h) (iii). In general terms, the Act requires Umalusi to ensure the development of such qualifications or part qualifications as are necessary for the sector.
“After a thorough process, an accreditation certificate is issued, but only when a college or a school has met all the requirements and had provided all the required information. In cases where the applicant is unable to provide the required information, they are alerted and given a deadline. If they miss that, accreditation is declined,” she said.
Once all the requirements are met, the information is uploaded to Umalusi’s website and accreditation is issued. Colleges are allowed to reapply, if they are unsuccessful. Ms Modimakwane said Umalusi was looking to establish regional teams to assist with monitoring nearby schools. Currently, Umalusi dispatches evaluators and monitors from the head office in Pretoria.
Committee Member Professor Themba Msimang said the growing number of institutions offering unaccredited qualifications is a serious challenge. “Thousands of poor people are exploited and lose their last cent in hopes of getting a qualification. In the end, they get an unaccredited qualification they cannot use anywhere,” he said.
The Committee is on a week-long oversight visit to Pretoria, where it seeks to understand the causes of the backlogs in certification, particularly in the technical and vocational education and training sector. It has already conducted oversight visits to institutions such as the State Information Technology Agency, the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The Committee is today visiting Umalusi and the Food and Beverage Sector Education Training Authority (Seta), and will on Friday visit the Media and Information Communication Technology Seta in Midrand.
Sibongile Maputi
3 August 2017
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