College breaches BQA rules
Mpho Mokwape | Friday February 23, 2018 17:38
The business college, which is not relatively new as it is registered as Damelin University of Botswana at the Registrar of Companies had recently started advertising the school on media outlets, hence contravening the BQA rules.
Mmegi investigations found that the school started late last year to place averts on billboards and moved on to place adverts in newspapers and radio.
This is despite the college still awaiting registration and accreditation from the BQA, which according to the authority, is still pending.
BQA communications and public relations manager, Selwana Pilatwe confirmed that indeed the school was awaiting response as they had applied for registration and accreditation.
“London College of International Business Studies has applied to Botswana Qualifications Authority for registration and accreditation as an Education and Training Provider,” she said.
Selwana explained that the process of registration and accreditation, under the new system, applies for registration and accreditation as an Education and Training Provider (ETP).
She noted that it was at that stage that the ETP’s category was determined and so did its scope.
“On the registration of qualifications on the National Credit and Qualifications Framework and accreditation of learning programmes, the college is yet to complete stage one, which is the ETP registration and accreditation,” she said.
Quizzed on the authority’s rules regarding running adverts for an institution still awaiting accreditation, she said that no ETP is allowed to advertise unaccredited learning programmes.
She confirmed that International Education and Training Providers who wished to offer training services in Botswana were required by law to register and accredit with the BQA, irrespective of being registered, recognised or accredited in their countries of origin.
On further probing, Mmegi found one thing noticeable: the number that has been provided to contact for further information goes straight to Dow and Associates.
This on its own has prompted speculation that the Minister of Basic Education, Unity Dow could be the owner or co-owner of the school.
However, upon contacting Dow and Associates attorney, Tumisang Dow he dismissed any link with the college in a brief interview with this publication, explaining that he was a contact person for the school, the reason the number goes through to the law firm.
He explained that it could have been a mistake when the number was provided, but declined to give further details about the school, directing the publication to a Charles Reeves in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Registrar of Companies sourced last week Friday that the college was still trading under Damelin University of Botswana and waiting for certificate of incorporation for a name change.
The document shows that the college was registered in 2016 under two directors, being Chetty Leo and Chetty Poobalan while Tumisang Dow is quoted as the secretary.
Late last year, the company made a notice of change in relation to one of the directors as Leo resigned in April 2017.
Newly appointed director appears as Kannigan Kasavan killing speculation that one Mompati Maruapula was the new director replacing Leo.
Reached for a comment, Maruapula declined to speak on any matter regarding the college except that any information sought could be found at the Registrar of Companies.