Privateproperty.co.za on Monday September 12 published a press release stating that Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA) had come to a decision to withdraw the accreditation status of Development Institute and Training Academy of Southern Africa (DITASA) due to non-compliance with the accreditation criteria.
Many of you have raised concerns over the article and we at Privateproperty.co.za felt it right to give DITASA the opportunity to respond with their version of the story.
As it seems, DITASA are fighting back!
Herewith the official response from DITASA. For any future queries on this topic, please communicate directly with DITASA. See below:
STATEMENT BY DITASA
(Development Institute and Training Academy of Southern Africa)
Noting the recent announcement by the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA) regarding its decision to withdraw the accreditation of DITASA as a Private FET College, DITASA wishes to respond as follows:-
DITASA refutes utterly the SSETA contention that it has contravened or failed in any way to comply with the current accreditation criteria as a Private Further Education and Training College and fully intends to challenge the SSETA’s decision. DITASA has been properly accredited since 2004 and has trained and qualified in excess of 8 000 learners in various disciplines who have all been certified by the SSETA. What is more, the future of a further 2 563 learners has been placed in jeopardy by the SSETA decision.
DITASA’s quality management system is ISO9001:2008 certified (QEC 28618) which means it has been independently verified to be administered and run at the highest international standards.
DITASA would like to point out that there have been a number of challenges to its accreditation since 2010, and that every one has been found to be baseless. What is more, DITASA to date was externally moderated by the Services Seta and with each external moderation conducted, received a favourable external moderation report.
DITASA also received an award in 2010 from the Services SETA as one of the Top Ten Gainful Employers for the Internship and Learnership Programmes.
DITASA is the largest provider of education and training for learners in the real estate industry. Learners elected to use DITASA as it has an impeccable track record as the best Private FET Colleges with a pass rate of over 70%, as compared to the average of 40 to 50%.
DITASA believes the sudden and unilateral withdrawal of its accreditation is the latest in a series of moves by the SSETA and other parties to counter act court actions taken by Ditasa against SSETA by casting doubt upon its credibility and business reputation. This DITASA believe is connected to the vested interests of organisations that is in line and will benefit from SSETA bursary allocations that would otherwise have gone to DITASA.
DITASA would like to point out that in withdrawing its accreditation; SSETA has failed to await the outcome of a High Court hearing scheduled for 18 September 2012 which is intended to resolve various points of difference between the two organisations.
Finally, DITASA would like to reassure all learners that it is acting in their best interests and measures to accommodate learners affected will be communicated soon.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF DITASA
DR STEFAN JACOBS
HEAD OF ACADEMY
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