Audit reveals higher education institutions enrolling students without qualifications

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has carried out nine incidental audits on unnamed colleges and verified the claims that these institutions enrolled students who did not meet the required five O-Level credits or higher for entry.

Authority Corporate Communications Officer Birbal Musaba said HEA conducted incidental audits where it had reasons to believe that a Higher Education Institution (HEI) mismanaged funds or the academic processes.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Musaba stated that several colleges were audited for mismanaging the academic process.

He added that the authority instructed the colleges to instruct all first-year students who had been enrolled and did not meet the entry requirements to immediately stop learning.

He said that they would not proceed with their studies until they obtain a full Grade 12 Certificate with at least 5 O-level credits.

“All second-year students who were enrolled in first year without meeting the entry requirements must immediately stop learning and will not proceed to third year until they obtain a full Grade 12 with at least 5 O-Level credits or better,” he further added.

He also said third-year students would not advance to teaching practice unless they held a complete Grade 12 certificate with a minimum of 5 O-level credits.

“HEA is directing all HEIs failing to meet these standards to cease this practice and adhere to the enrolment requirement of at least fivw O-level credits,” he added.

He emphasized that the authority would conduct compliance audits on this directive in the second quarter of 2025, at which point punitive measures will be applied to any HEI found in violation.

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