U-turn on Damelin de-registration

Damelin, a higher education institution under the Educor group, has been provisionally reinstated after its de-registration by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) earlier this year.

The institution says it has since taken corrective action and has been provisionally reinstated subject to strict conditions, including full compliance with accreditation requirements, submission of monthly reports, and financial transparency.

Educor institutions, City Varsity (Pty) Ltd, Damelin (Pty) Ltd, Icesa City Campus (Pty) Ltd, and Lyceum College (Pty) Ltd had failed to provide evidence of their financial stability to the DHET and were therefore de-registered earlier this year, leaving over 13000 students hanging.

According to the department, the four institutions exhibited non-compliance with the stipulations set forth in the Higher Education Act and its accompanying regulations. They neglected to fulfil the registration requirement as mandated by Section 2b of the act and failed to adequately discharge their responsibilities as outlined in the regulations.

The chief operating officer of Educor, Michael Thurley, said: “As we move forward, Damelin is fully committed to strengthening our relationship with the DHET and ensuring that we not only meet but exceed the regulatory standards required of us.

“We are re-engineering the business model and will align the processes to further enhance our operations and educational offerings, ensuring that we continue to deliver the best possible education to our students.”

“Damelin remains steadfast in our mission to empower students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their chosen fields.

“We are dedicated to continuous improvement and innovation in our approach to education, and we look forward to working closely with the DHET and our entire community to uphold these values,” said Thurley.

Educor is a private education supplier managing 10 educational brands across its more than 60 campuses and sites in South Africa and internationally.

Since its inception in 2008, Educor identifies itself as an education giant offering face-to-face, distance and online learning. Its face-to-face brands include Damelin and City Varsity.

Distance brands include Intec College, Damelin Correspondence College (DCC) and its higher-education distance brand, Lyceum.

The department, however, has stressed that the qualifications from the four Educor institutions, issued or obtained during the period of registration and during the phase-out period, remain valid and recognised.

It said Educor’s registration has been provisionally reinstated on condition of accreditation compliance, monthly reports, and financial transparency.

“Reinstatement aims to minimise disruption for students but does not waive departmental rights or legal proceedings. Failure to adhere to the conditions or further non-compliance may result in revocation,” it said.

The Mercury