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JOHANNESBURG. –  Four private colleges described as being “dysfunctional” have been ordered to close in South Africa, leaving thousands of students in limbo.

They had fabricated exam results, as well as other issues, said Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.

The institutions have failed to submit audited financial statements since 2020, the education department said.

The colleges are owned by Educor, one of the largest private education providers in southern Africa.

It runs educational institutions on more than 60 campuses in South Africa and internationally.

The colleges, Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum College located around the country, have been given until the end of the year to cease operations.

Nzimande told journalists that after a large-scale investigation into the colleges, serious issues had been brought to his attention.

He labelled the colleges “dysfunctional” due to a number of complaints received from students and workers, “most of which remain unresolved”.

Some students complained about the poor quality of teaching and learning, lack of administrative support and lack of professionalism. There have been allegations of non-payment of staff salaries and corruption, he added.

The Educor institutions also inflated their numbers so as to hide their declining student population, according to the minister.  – BBC.com