Due to system inefficiencies, a major backlog was present when it came to the issuing of TVET College certificates to graduates, since 1992. During a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting, the Department of Higher Education provided an update on the progress made in the TVET certificate backlog.
The certification backlog pertains to candidate documentation that fulfills all certification criteria, yet a certificate has not been issued within 90 working days following the release of results.
The Department has said:
The Department of Higher Education and Training has been plagued by the TVET and CET Colleges certificates backlog dating back to 1992. A Certification Task Team (CTT) comprising of DHET, Umalusi and SITA representatives has been established to work on the certification backlog reduction and elimination.
The TVET certification backlog was " largely created by the outdated examination Information Technology (IT) system which cannot adequately condone and reconcile candidates’ achievement records across different examinations," explained the department.
The department has said that backlogs for GETC: ABET L4, NATED Business Studies, NATED Engineering Studies and NC(V) certificates have been cleared up.
Here's a breakdown of the outstanding records, which is now said to be cleared up:
- GETC: ABET Level 4 - 65 890
- NATED Business Studies - 29 473
- NATED Engineering Studies - 21 628
- NC(V) - 410 first issue certificates and 7 866 full certificates
The Department, SITA and Umalusi have processed 125 277 from 125 277 records which translates to 100.00% from the period 18 February 2020 to 03 January 2023. There are no outstanding records as of baseline.
To reduce any backlog of certificates, an e-query system is being used. This system is in place to assist anyone involved in the certification value chain to track queries relating to outstanding examination results and issuing of certificates and diplomas.
The Department is working to track and attend to all outstanding certificates on a bi-weekly basis.
All former TVET college students who are awaiting their results to are urged escalate their enquiries with the department of higher education and lodge concerns via the e-GOV portal on www.eservices.gov.za
