Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo and Michelle Musandinyoze
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has raised concern over the proliferation of unregistered colleges operating in Bulawayo, stating that only 38 institutions are officially registered — posing a risk to the integrity of the education sector.
Bulawayo Provincial Deputy Director for Secondary and Non-Formal Education, Mr Thabani Sibanda, made the remarks during the Bulawayo Independent Colleges Association (Bica) dinner, where stakeholders and college representatives gathered to address the high number of unregistered colleges in the city.
In his address, Mr Sibanda emphasised that education is a critical pillar shaping the nation’s future. He warned that the unchecked rise in unregistered colleges presents a serious threat to the quality and credibility of education.
“These institutions prioritise profit over the provision of quality education, leaving students vulnerable to substandard services. There is no supervision of teaching and learning in these unregistered colleges, hence the delivery of education is compromised,” he said.
Mr Sibanda revealed that only 38 colleges across Bulawayo’s five districts are registered, while many others continue to operate illegally — misleading learners and undermining the sector.
He said the province has intensified efforts to engage these unregistered colleges, which will be forced to shut down if they fail to comply with registration requirements. He further noted that many of the colleges lack adequate resources, have poor infrastructure and offer unauthorised programmes — jeopardising students’ futures and undermining the national vision of quality education for all.
“On 4 April 2025, we held a workshop with unregistered independent colleges and the City Council to explore ways of supporting them. The challenge is that these colleges emerge at any location and are mobile, frequently relocating,” he said.
Finmas, a consultancy that assists institutions with registration, was present to educate colleges on the importance of formalising their operations.
Director of Finmas Business Consultancy, Mr Shepherd Masvanhise, outlined the benefits of registration, noting that compliance with national laws enables institutions to access proper premises and operate securely.
“In terms of the Income Tax Act, businesses are required to register with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) within 30 days of commencing operations. Failure to do so can result in penalties.
“Registered institutions can more easily acquire premises through estate agents and can grow their operations. Reports from registered colleges are submitted to the head office, demonstrating quality teaching and learning. In contrast, the quality at unregistered colleges remains unknown. Moreover, unregistered colleges often lack examination status, meaning students must be transported elsewhere to sit for their exams,” he said.
Mr Masvanhise encouraged colleges to approach the relevant authorities, meet the necessary requirements, and register under the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec), insisting that students deserve the best as the future of the nation.
However, a Bica member expressed frustration over Zimsec’s registration process, claiming it lacks transparency and consistency.
“Zimsec requires us to pay US$500 for each registration attempt, even if our previous applications were not approved. We’ve been inspected four times and complied with all the checklist items, yet we are still not registered.
Our concern is not about being rejected; it’s about the absence of feedback. We don’t receive reports explaining where we went wrong, which is extremely frustrating. We’re left unsure of how to proceed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bica Chairman and Zimbabwe Independent College Association Sports chairman, Mr Rhodes Richard, expressed gratitude to the Government for its support in improving the status of sports in independent colleges, stating that the development of sports facilities is progressing well.
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