BusinessLive reports that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has released about 233,000 National Certificate (Vocational) [NC (V)] certificates out of the outstanding 236,000 at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.  

The backlog dated back to 2007.  Department spokesman Madikwe Mabotha said that a number of operational issues had caused the delay in issuing certificates.  One of the reasons was that colleges sent incorrect student information which disrupted the entire value chain.  The department said it had processed an additional 132,912 NC (V) certificate records for the recent November 2016 examination cycle.  This excluded 5,812 certificates that were pending "due to processing and data … challenges".  The department was still sitting on a backlog of about 16,574 National N Diploma (NND) applications that were still pending.  The processes were on track and the release of all outstanding National N Diplomas would be done by no later than 30 June.

• Read this report by Michelle Gumede in full at BusinessLive
• See too, Higher education department reduces backlog in issuing TVET certificates, at SABC News

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