The lives of several former students, of the Rural TVET College in Okiep, remain in limbo while they continue to wait for their long outstanding graduation certificates.
The DA raised the issue in parliament and questioned the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, after it was reported last year that about 40 graduates were experiencing substantial delays in receiving their certificates, some for as long as five years.
After consistent pressure, it appeared that the problem was being resolved and in early December, a number of students reported the eventual receipt of their certificates.
Soon after, a parliamentary response by Nzimande stated that a task team comprising the Department, SITA, and Umalusi was established and had managed to reduce the certification backlog. Regional Task Teams were also said to have been constituted to address current and future certification matters with a view to strengthening capacity at college level.
In respect of the Northern Cape Rural TVET College, Namaqualand Campus, Nzimande indicated that they had processed the applications of all the outstanding certificates and that the college acknowledged receipt of the certificates.
Given the above, it is concerning that of the 31 names that I submitted to the department, of students who had outstanding certificates, only nine have to date received their diplomas.
After following-up with the academic head of the College, I was informed that they are still battling with the department and that a number of diplomas, including some from Okiep, remain outstanding.
I have made an urgent follow-up with the Minister and am awaiting feedback.
No more administrative bungles must be allowed to stand in the way of graduates’ access to their hard-earned qualifications, to improve their prospects of applying for jobs and furthering their studies. The DA will not tolerate graduates’ futures are put on hold as a result of missing certificates, that is no fault of their own.