Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College students are deeply frustrated with the delays in the issuance of their diplomas and certificates. This led to the creation of a petition calling for reform within the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which has garnered over 1000 signatures.
Delays in receiving diplomas can severely impact students' ability to secure employment or pursue further education. Employers often require proof of qualifications, and delays in the issuance of certificates can lead to missed job opportunities.
It can also cause financial hardship for students who have completed their studies and are relying on their qualifications to start earning an income.
The DHET has acknowledged the petition, noting that there was a significant delay in certificate issuance in 2024. To mitigate the impact of the delays, the department issued qualifying students with confirmation letters indicating they completed their studies.
According to the department, certificate delays from 2024 “have been resolved, and 18,000 diplomas were printed and released to eligible students.” They added that a DHET team is working tirelessly to process outstanding Diplomas.
Students who are still waiting for their diploma applications to be processed are encouraged to visit the www.e-services.gov.za website. Students who are facing delays should register and log their concerns on the website.
These queries will be prioritized by the Department, and the Department undertakes to increase temporary capacity to process the diploma applications that are delayed.
Students also expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act.
Confusion surrounding the application of the POPI Act can create barriers for students seeking work placements. If businesses are overly cautious or misinterpret the Act, students fear that they may be reluctant to provide necessary work experience, which would prevent students from gaining their diplomas.
The DHET says it will engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure students are not disadvantaged from receiving their diplomas due to the POPI Act.
The department engaged with the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations (QCTO) as the independent quality assurance council for N4-N6 and National N Diplomas.
The QCTO has the legal mandate in terms of the Skills Development Act of 1998 to quality assure the processing of the diploma, and the Department is awaiting a directive from QCTO in this regard.
Students added that the DHET does not provide adequate support in helping students secure work placements that are needed to complete their qualification.
In respect of support, the Department will engage with principals to foster partnerships with local businesses and sign a memorandum of understanding to engage companies to support students to enable them to complete their log sheets.
TVET College principals have been instructed to create monitoring units to assess the relevance of student work placements and ensure they are placed in workspaces that relate to their qualifications.
