As the class of 2013 scramble to secure a space at universities and colleges, an education expert has warned prospective students to carefully scrutinise institutions before signing up.
As the class of 2013 scramble to secure a space at universities and colleges, an education expert has warned prospective students to carefully scrutinise institutions before signing up.
"There are still some unscrupulous people exploiting newly matriculated students’ inability to get into universities for fraudulent and selfish financial gain,” says Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of the Independent Institute of Education (IIE).
However, there are ways students can – and should – interrogate institutions before parting with any money.
Coughlan says private institutions are required to adhere to the same rigorous quality assurance processes as state universities – meaning that if you register at the right private institution you are able to gain a qualification of equal standing and quality.
Most private institutions operating throughout the country are registered and accredited and almost all offer a viable alternative for students seeking a post-school study opportunity.
Coughlan says it is a travesty that the actions of some taint the whole sector.
“Students unfortunately do not seem to realise just how easy it is to check the credentials of private institutions, and thus deny themselves the protection of being sure about the status of the institution – and therefore the qualification – they are choosing,” she says.
“All the key information about the registration of an institution is available in the Register of Private Higher Education Institutions kept by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and the information is also readily available from reputable institutions.”
Before signing up, ask the institution to show you their certificate of registration with the Department of Higher Education. It should detail the campus, provider and the qualifications offered. No certificate – no go.
All higher education qualifications need to be accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education – if they are not accredited, they will not appear on the certificate referred to above. There is no other document detailing the accreditation, which is why checking if the qualification is on the certificate is an essential step.
All qualifications must be registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and students should ask for the SAQA NQF identity numbers. “Students eager to sign up in the current climate where spaces at tertiary institutions are scarce, may be tempted to forego this little bit of additional hassle,” says Coughlan.
“But failing to make the effort makes you enormously vulnerable to scamsters. By taking the time to ask these simple questions, you contribute to strengthening the private higher education sector by making it harder for scamsters to continue operating.”
