By Lilian Kasenene, Morogoro
The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) has issued a stern warning to parents, guardians, and students to be cautious of unregistered health training institutions, some of which are operating fraudulently and misleading the public.
The warning came from Dr. Obeid Mahenya, NACTVET’s Manager of Examinations and Awards, during a recent inspection visit to St. Malkus College of Health and Allied Sciences (SMCOHAS) in Morogoro. The college had previously been shut down for failing to meet the required standards.
Dr. Mahenya revealed that despite the ban, the institution has continued to operate under a different name Highlands Health Institute Morogoro Campus which is not recognized by NACTVET. This deceptive approach has enabled the institution to offer health-related courses that are not accredited.
“What is happening here is pure fraud. We received reports from our stakeholders about a college offering health training programs without registration. On inspection, we discovered that the institution is using a different name, but it is the same one we had shut down earlier. They have rebranded to mislead the public and continue offering unapproved training,” Dr. Mahenya said.
The inspection team reviewed class timetables and exams, and upon contacting the college owner and principal via phone, the owner denied operating any training programs, describing the situation as a scam.
Dr. Mahenya urged Tanzanians to be extra vigilant and verify the registration status of any training institution before enrolling. He encouraged the public to use the official NACTVET website, which provides a comprehensive list of all registered and approved colleges.
According to NACTVET procedures, the first step in addressing such cases is to inform the public. This is followed by a formal notice to the institution.
If the illegal operation persists, the matter is taken to legal authorities. He explained that although the institution had applied for re-registration, it failed to meet the required standards during inspection.
It was then given time to improve its facilities and learning environment before undergoing re-evaluation.
“However, instead of waiting for re-inspection, the owners decided to violate the regulations and resumed operations under a different name. This jeopardizes their chances of future registration and legal measures are now being considered,” he added.
Florian Everest, NACTVET’s Senior Quality Assurance Officer, noted that the institution was under monitoring and had been given time to address the deficiencies found during previous evaluations.
Shockingly, the inspection team found it running programs that are currently not recognized in the job market.
He listed the unapproved programs as Medical Laboratory Sciences, Health Assistant, and Clinical Medicine, raising concerns about the quality and relevance of the training being offered.
“The owners of these colleges are fully aware of the importance of registration. A registered institution receives official guidance and monitoring from NACTVET, including evaluation of its learning environment, qualifications of instructors, curriculum standards, and student admission criteria. Most importantly, the council ensures that the curriculum meets market demand,” Everest explained.
“If they had followed these procedures, they wouldn’t be offering the Health Assistant program, which has been officially discontinued and is no longer relevant in today’s job market,” he added.
Speaking to this reporter by phone, the college’s owner, who identified himself only as Luqman, claimed that the institution is currently operating lawfully and that graduates from Highlands are securing employment.
He stated that the college is recognized by NACTVET and plans to begin enrolling students officially in October, once the registration window opens in May.
“As for students in the Health Assistant program, since they are not required to go through the May registration process, we have already begun admitting them. We had an intake in March and are registering their names. We will continue enrolling in April as well. However, for Clinical Medicine students, even those who register in May will begin classes in October,” he said.