/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The decision to close four colleges of the Educor group is a blow to the private higher education sector. Lyceum College, Damelin, CityVarsity and Icesa City Campus, have all been deregistered by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) after Educor’s failure to submit its 2020 and 2021 annual financial certificates and annual reports, as well as a host of other concerns.

Educor has until October to appeal the deregistration and the DA calls on the group to get its ducks in a row for the benefit of its 13 000 students.

Private higher education institutions are instrumental to filling the gap of access to higher education and Educor’s failure is causing its students severe stress, while also relegating its staff to South Africa’s vast unemployment lines.

Educor’s demise must serve as a lesson to the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, and his Department to tackle similar concerns at public higher education and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to root out the precedent of flouting laws and rules without fear of consequence management. It also highlights the importance of reviewing the Higher Education Act to fully comply with the White Paper of Higher Education.

Issued by Chantel King MP - DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education