Briefing by Ingwe TVET College on governance, administration, teaching and learning and related matters

Video The Committee convened in Parliament to engage the Ingwe TVET College on its state of affairs. The College experienced a myriad of challenges, as reported by its student representatives and organised labour. Most of these challenges were not new to Members as they were common across different TVET colleges in the system. Some of these issues included online registration problems, where students applying online did not receive timely notifications about their application status, risking being overlooked in favour of walk-in applicants. There was also a shortage of textbooks and the unavailability of robotics lecturers and resources, with new programmes being introduced without the provision of necessary resources for students. The stakeholders further highlighted the absence of permanent lecture halls, with many temporary structures dating back over five years, lack of chairs and desks, poorly maintained computer labs, limited Wi-Fi access on campus, restricted to administrative areas, outdated workshop equipment, with no facilities for the robotics programme, late payments of NSFAS allowances, and unsanitary toilets across the campuses. Members were appalled by the state of affairs at Ingwe especially the exposure of students and staff to unclean toilets. Members were told that students and the staff seldom had to relieve themselves outside due to the unsanitary state of the toilets at the institution. The Department was warned to take its oversight role seriously, as a lack of clean toilets was tantamount to disrespect to South Africans. Members expressed their concern that many of the challenges discussed were not new and criticised the Department for its inability to effectively hold institutions accountable. They were particularly surprised to learn that a senior official, the Deputy Principal for Corporate Services at Ingwe TVET College, was unaware of the Department's sexual harassment policy. This revelation came during discussions about a sexual harass