Look out for bogus private institutions
As the class of 2015 have received their matric results, some of the school-leavers might find themselves stuck after not being accepted by the university at which they had hoped to study, leaving them with only the option of going to a private institution.
And though this option may work, the Ministry for Higher Education and Training wishes to use this time of the year to warn the prospective students who want to enrol in private colleges, to be cautious of bogus institutions offering unaccredited programmes.
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana says students should check the registration status of these institutions with the DHET by contacting the call centre on 0800 872 222, before enrolling with any private institution and paying money.
In addition, the registers of private colleges and private higher education institutions are available on the DHET’s website at www.dhet.gov.za/Documents/Registrations, where students can check.
Nkwanyana says the department is working closely with the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to close down unregistered private institutions.
During the months of January and February the department will also be operating a central application clearing house, which has been developed to assist learners who qualify for higher education studies, who have applied for a space at an institution but have not been offered a place at the institution of their choice after the matric results were released.
It is also accessible to those learners who did not apply before closing dates last year, and now find that they are eligible for high education studies.
Learners looking for spaces in the university education system can contact the toll free call centre on 0800 356 635, or send an SMS with their name, ID and contact number to 49200, and they will be called back free of charge.
