At LearnersTag, we understand that accurate information is important when people are making decisions about education, training and career opportunities. Our fact-checking process is designed to reduce factual errors and help readers distinguish between information provided by an organisation and information added for context.
This policy explains how we check information before and after it is published.
What We Fact-Check
We focus on verifying factual information that could affect a reader’s understanding of an opportunity or their decision to apply. Depending on the article, this may include:
- Opportunity names and descriptions
- Eligibility requirements
- Educational requirements
- Application opening and closing dates
- Application methods and links
- Locations
- Stipends or funding information
- Available fields of study or programmes
- Contact details
- Information about the organisation offering the opportunity
Not every article contains all of these details. Where information has not been provided by a reliable source, we avoid presenting an assumption as a confirmed fact.
Sources We Use
Whenever possible, we check opportunity information against primary or official sources. These may include government departments, official government entities, universities, colleges, employers, official programme websites and other organisations responsible for the opportunity.
Official sources are particularly important for information that can change, such as application deadlines, requirements and application procedures.
We may also consult reputable secondary sources when additional context is useful. However, secondary information is not treated as a substitute for an official source when the original organisation provides the relevant information.
Where appropriate, we provide links to official sources so readers can independently review the original information.
How We Check Information
Before publishing an opportunity article, we review the available information and compare important details with the relevant source or sources.
If information appears inconsistent between sources, we do not simply choose the version that appears most convenient. We try to determine which source is more authoritative and current. If the difference cannot reasonably be resolved, we may explain the uncertainty rather than presenting one version as certain.
We also check links where possible to ensure that readers are directed to the intended application or information page.
Dates and Changing Information
Learnerships, internships, bursaries and other opportunities can change after an article is published. An organisation may extend a deadline, change its requirements, replace an application link or withdraw an opportunity.
For this reason, a fact-check performed when an article is published does not mean that every detail will remain current indefinitely.
When we become aware of a significant change, we aim to review the relevant article and update the information where appropriate.
Readers should always confirm important details on the official website or application source before applying.
When Information Cannot Be Verified
If an important claim cannot be confirmed through a reliable source, we avoid presenting it as established fact.
For example, if an organisation has not publicly stated a stipend amount, we will not invent or estimate one and present it as the official amount. Instead, we may state that the stipend information was not supplied in the available official information.
Similarly, we do not assume that an opportunity is still open simply because an older article remains published.
Reader Corrections
Readers are encouraged to report information that appears incorrect, outdated or unclear.
If you identify a possible factual error, contact info@learnerstag.org and include the article title or page URL. If possible, provide the relevant official source supporting the correction.
Reported information is reviewed before changes are made. Corrections are based on available evidence rather than personal disagreement with an article.
For more information about how corrections are handled, please see our Corrections Policy.
Our Commitment
Our fact-checking process is intended to make LearnersTag more useful and transparent for South African learners, students, graduates and job seekers.
We recognise that no online information source can guarantee that every published detail will remain accurate as circumstances change. Our responsibility is to make reasonable efforts to verify information, clearly communicate uncertainty and correct significant errors when they are identified.