Future hangs in the balance for maritime students

STUDENTS at the Maritime Business and Computer College (MBCC) in Richards Bay are up in arms over their future in the maritime industry.

MBCC was forced to close its doors in August this year after the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) exposed the college as not being registered with the department and also offering unaccredited diplomas.
However, the college reopened last month after meetings were held with the department.

According to the department’s Dr Shaheeda Essack, INDUB Training (Pty) Ltd trading as Maritime Business and Computer College (MBCC) is not registered with the department as either a private higher education institution or a private college.

These are the two types of private colleges and institutions that the department registers.

MBCC currently offers three diplomas (level 4, 5 and 6) in shipping and logistics, none of which are recognised by DHET.

‘The diploma in shipping and logistics is currently registered on the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a higher education programme.

‘Any person wishing to offer it is required to be accredited with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and then registered with the department.

‘MBCC is not registered to offer the programme, but claims to be accredited by the Association of Business Managers and Administrators (ABMA), which is recognized as an awarding body by the Office of Qualifications (OFQUAL) in the United Kingdom.

No legal standing
‘However, ABMA has no legal standing in this country with respect to the accreditation of private providers to offer programmes.

‘Accreditation of private providers is the responsibility of the statutory Quality Councils (QCs), that is the CHE, UMALUSI and the QCTO.

‘What is more worrying is that the ABMA accredited qualifications offered in this country are not even listed on the Register of Qualifications by OFQUAL.

‘In other words, even the state authorities in the UK do not recognise these qualifications.

‘Since the department’s main concern was that students are not disadvantaged, MBCC was instructed to issue a recognized qualification, which is the level 3 qualification.

‘Students who are not happy with the level 3 qualification may exercise their rights and seek legal advice and a refund,’ said Essack.

According to DHET, MCCB are to issue level 3 qualifications to students who have passed their level 4, 5 a 6 qualifications at the end of the year.

The ZO is in possession of a statement issued by MCCB, in which they indicated that students will not have to pay any further fees for the rest of the year.

However, students allege that lecturers at the college had told them that they needed to have made a payment if they are to write their upcoming examinations.

Lecturers at the college denied these claims, saying that the students were misguided and confused.

Uncertainty
Simeshile Vumasi (20), a student at MBCC’s Richards Bay campus, said they are worried about their future and would like MCCB chief executive officer Jay Ramkisoon to address their parents.

‘Mr Ramkisoon is not communicating with our parents. He promised he would do that.’

The ZO made numerous attempts to obtain a response from MCCB, to no avail.

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