How To Identify Bogus Colleges

Authorities, including the SAPS and the Department of Higher Education, are repeatedly issuing warnings for prospective students to steer clear of bogus colleges and educational scams. But while this is sound advice, it may not be enough to actually assist young people in identifying such outfits.

How to identify bogus colleges

Additionally, the public may also become unnecessarily wary of all private higher education institutions, limiting their own access to quality education.

Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of The Independent Institute of Education, says that because the private higher education sector is highly regulated in South Africa, with information readily available in prescribed formats, it is in fact easy to identify credible institutions and their campuses if you know what to look for.

“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,” she says.

“There are also a few key questions to ask to which there are some simple answers, and if an institution is able to respond appropriately, it is worth considering.”