Matric students who are enrolled at and write exams at private schools that aren’t accredited with basic education regulatory body, Umalusi, will not get their certificates starting next year.

Umalusi announced that this decision was informed by the need for all independent schools to be accredited by Umalusi before they can offer qualifications that fall within its mandate.

This will be in effect from January 2017 after schools were given notices to apply for accreditation by 31st October this year.

According to regulatory guidelines, in order for an independent school to be registered as an examination centre by either an accredited private assessment body or the state, such a school, besides being registered as a school, must also be accredited by Umalusi.

“Umalusi will certify only the learners who sit and fulfil the requirements of the National Senior Certificate at accredited independent schools or independent schools that have made considerable progress in their application for accreditation with Umalusi,” said CEO of Umalusi, Mafu Rakometsi.

“Part of Umalusi’s mandate is to ensure that learners attend schools that are recognised by law so that they can obtain credible qualifications from those institutions. We are doing this to protect unsuspecting learners and parents from unscrupulous people,” he added.

[Source – SANews]