Breakthrough in Crackdown on Unaccredited Private Schools

Following our urgent intervention in May regarding a network of unaccredited private schools operating in the Ekurhuleni region, ActionSA is pleased to announce a significant breakthrough in our fight to protect vulnerable learners and parents.

Recently, MPL John Moodey met directly with the leadership and management of the previously flagged institutions including El Shaddai Learning Academy and Lee Rand High School.

The purpose of this engagement was to address the severe administrative irregularities and operational concerns brought to our attention by desperate parents and our local ActionSA Ekurhuleni structures.

During this meeting, ActionSA secured critical concessions and established a clear path forward to ensure these institutions achieve full legal compliance.

ActionSA has now seen documented confirmation that these schools have officially initiated the rigorous process of obtaining the correct registration papers and independent Umalusi accreditation.

While they previously operated under an illicit “umbrella” framework, the leadership has committed to correcting this structural flaw and ensuring each institution is registered under its own distinct EMIS number, as required by law.

Furthermore, we tackled the pressing issue of misleading advertisements, which previously promised Grade 12 tuition and NSC exam registrations that the schools were not legally permitted to offer.

ActionSA and the school leaders have reached an understanding to immediately resolve this issue. The schools have committed to full transparency regarding their current accreditation status and will cease all such advertising that could misleads the public.

While we welcome this cooperative step taken by the schools’ leadership, our oversight does not end here. We will not simply take these promises at face value. However, ActionSA is committed to assisting the school leadership in navigating this process.

We have offered our support to help them resolve any administrative hurdles they may face and to ensure that any unnecessary red tape from the Department of Education and Umalusi is eliminated so they can achieve full compliance.

ActionSA will closely monitor this regularisation process every step of the way and ensure that all the process is followed without any issues.

We will ensure that:

• The applications for accreditation are followed through to completion.
• The immediate academic needs of the currently enrolled learners, especially matriculants, are safeguarded.
• Basic safety and health standards are rapidly improved in these facilities.

ActionSA remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that every child in Gauteng has access to a safe, legitimate, and fully accredited learning environment. We will continue to use our platform in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to hold both educational institutions and the Department of Education accountable.

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