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500 signatures reached
To: Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education
We demand the Dept. of Education to release our diplomas!
Photo credit: Joseph Chirume
We demand that the Department of Higher Education prioritize releasing diplomas and certificates to graduates.
We demand that the Department of Higher Education prioritize releasing diplomas and certificates to graduates.
While it is the responsibility of the TVET colleges to inform candidates to collect their qualifications upon receipt by their respective colleges/campuses, colleges are also expected to hand over certificates and diplomas to qualifying candidates [1]. According to DHET, challenges do occur, especially with private college relocations.
There has been a widely documented issue with the backlog of diplomas and certificates being released by DHET. Previously, backlogs have been accounted for by different stakeholders such as Umalusi, the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and DHET [2].
Yet recently, students who attended the KwaMashu Branch of the Elangeni TVET college have complained about losing out on employment opportunities due to DHET and their college failing to issue their certificates [3]. To remedy the situation DHET offered affected students verification letter which is not a desirable solution.
The SABC has done mutiple interviews covering how the issue of backlogs with issuing certificates affects students watch here: https://youtu.be/Q9RwfsM2FYQ?si=VtUZwSTD2AZgVFHD
Why is this important?
“I am a college student, and I have been studying for three years, including in-service training. I applied for a diploma from the Department of Education last year so I can graduate this year.
My application has been on the verification process for a long period, and I will miss graduation because the department hasn't finished verifying my application 💔
They told me during a telephone conversation that they don't have the papers to print the diplomas, so they buy them overseas.
This is a story of a thousand young people in SA, and we have no voice, some have waited for 5 years, and some even passed away without receiving their diploma’s” - an affected student.
References
[1] Questions NW3395 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. By PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/20482/
[2] Examination certificate backlog challenges and process: Department, Umalusi and State Information Technology Agency briefings. By PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/24019/
[3] Six years in limbo - Elangeni TVET college students miss out on jobs while waiting for qualification studies. By Naledi Sikhakhane for Daily Maverick. 14 February 2024. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-14-six-years-in-limbo-elangeni-tvet-college-students-miss-out-on-jobs-while-waiting-for-qualification-certificates/
[4] Taletso TVET college students complain about delay in the issuing of certificates, SABC News. 15 May 2023. https://youtu.be/Q9RwfsM2FYQ?si=VtUZwSTD2AZgVFHD