GTC graduates cry foul over failed issuance of certificates
Some 29 former students of Gaborone Technical College (GTC) who graduated on the 24th of February 2023, have still not received their certificates.
The aggrieved complain that after finishing their studies, they proceeded with a graduation ceremony which was held at Boipuso Hall in Gaborone in February last year.
During the graduation ceremony, some students were allegedly given their certificates while others went home empty-handed. When they enquired about what was happening, they were told to return to school for answers.
But ever since, they have been sent from pillar to post whenever they inquire about their certificates. The college is at pains to fully explain what is happening with certificates while graduates suffer.
“We are disappointed, it’s been months running into a year now and we are still stuck, we cannot look for jobs because we have nothing proving that we have completed studies. We cannot even start businesses because clients cannot trust that we are professionals,” one of the aggrieved former students said. She accused the college of “kid handling” and not giving the issue the seriousness it deserves.
“There were many of us without certificates, some we hear got assisted after a lengthy wait. All the school ever says is that the Ministry of Education is better placed to say why we do not have certificates,” the fuming lady said.
The former students accused the college of incompetence saying they have heard that in some instances, the school does not properly capture all names of those graduating.
“It explains why they are dilly-dallying, they know they have messed up and instead of cleaning up the mess they delay even further.”
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education Neo Sealetsa confirmed that some former GTC students are yet to collect their certificates at the college.
According to him, 29 people are yet to collect their certificates but it is not the college's fault that the certificates remain uncollected. "Gaborone Technical College Class of 2022, which graduated on the 24th February 2023 had 249 graduates, all of whose certificates were printed by the awarding body, the Technical Education and Training Examinations Board.
“Of these, 220 certificates were collected on graduation day and the 29 remaining were not collected because their owners were not present during the graduation ceremony."
He said that out of the 29, none has ever come forward to request for their certificates as yet and the college has continually been in contact with the affected encouraging them to collect certificates.