Johannesburg, South Africa – Thousands of aspiring healthcare professionals are facing prolonged delays in receiving their final examination results, leaving them unable to secure employment and casting doubt on the credibility of training institutions.
The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and the Quality Council on Trades and Occupations (QCTO), responsible for certifying healthcare graduates, are under fire for failing to release results on time. Mduduzi Moyo, manager of Mpilo Royal College, a nursing institution, says the delays have turned his college into a “dubious” establishment in the eyes of students and parents.
Students in Limbo
Many students who wrote their final Health Promotion Officer exams in 2023 and early 2024 are still waiting for their results. One affected student, Blessing Stuurman, is preparing for his final exams but fears his results could be delayed for months, just like his peers.
“I was part of that group that didn’t receive results for eight months,” Stuurman said. “Now I’m writing again tomorrow, not knowing if I’ll get my results on time.”
Over 100 training colleges and thousands of students nationwide have been impacted, with institutions facing declining enrollments as public trust erodes.
Colleges Bear the Brunt
Moyo says the delays have damaged his college’s reputation. “Our enrollment has declined, and society no longer views us as a credible organization,” he said.
The issue stems from administrative bottlenecks between HWSETA and QCTO. After conducting exams, HWSETA must send results to QCTO for verification. However, Moyo claims the results are often submitted in the wrong format, leading to a frustrating back-and-forth between the two bodies.
Calls for Accountability
“The HWSETA and QCTO need to get their house in order,” Moyo demanded. “This has been going on for years, and it’s hurting students and institutions.”
Attempts to get comment from HWSETA and QCTO were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
As the delays persist, students like Stillman remain in career limbo, while colleges struggle to maintain their credibility in an already strained healthcare education system.