Student certificate debacle reveals government failures 

12 August 2015

The DA now knows, from a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training today, that the massive backlog of over 100 000 certificates to graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges can be put down to inadequate systems and procedures in both the Higher Education Department-administered TVET colleges and in the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

The presentation today by SITA’s newly appointed CEO, Setumo Mohapi, made it clear that there had been failures in several spheres.

The DA will request that TVET colleges urgently present the portfolio committee with a turnaround strategy with clear timelines on how they will ensure that the backlog of certificates is cleared and does not occur again. SITA has already implemented a turnaround strategy and we call on TVET colleges to follow suit. 

The DA will continue to monitor the project closely. The SITA will be presenting their progress report to the Portfolio Committee in three months and we will hold the SITA, TVET colleges and Umalusi to their commitment to clear this debilitating backlog by the end of the year.

The presentation revealed:

New exam and diploma rules implemented five years ago had not been accompanied by adequate changes in the IT systems managed by SITA;

SITA was then using IT methodologies which were twenty or thirty years out of date;

SITA did not fully understand the underlying principles in the certification process;

The examination centres were not all able to ensure data integrity and the processes of recording the data varied enormously between the centres. As a result the data sent to Umalusi, the quality assurance body, and SITA was often unclear, unchecked and incompatible with the main system;

There was no common rule base operating between the Department, SITA and Umalusi; and

There were insufficient staff in all spheres to manage the problem.

The massive certificate backlogs, which the DA has repeatedly raised, has denied many thousands of young, qualified South Africans the opportunity to better their lives through employment, with some students waiting since 2007 for their certificates.

The certification of students follows a three-step process: 

- students are tested in nationally set and managed exams at 250 exam centres in the 50 Colleges, as well as dozens of private Colleges; 

- the results are sent to Umalusi, the quality assurance body, which checks the data for conformity to academic standards; and 

- the results are then sent to SITA which compiles them in their final form and is responsible for providing the confirmed data for the issuing of the certificates.

These young people have sought to better their prospects with education which the DA believes is a vital foundation to building a prosperous life. Government's role should be to empower young people with opportunities to lead successful lives. 

The failure to deliver these certificates has deprived thousands of graduates of the dignity and independence that comes with finding work after graduation and is simply unacceptable.

Statement issued by Prof Belinda Bozzoli MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training, August 12 2015