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The DA has received a number of requests for assistance from students and service providers who have not received certificates from Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) for training completed.

Without their certificates, these young people struggle to find jobs. Some students have been waiting for SETA certificates for up to three years but their pleas to government have fallen on deaf ears.

We know of at least 21 students who have been waiting for certification from the Services SETA since January 2010. Two others have waited for certificates since 2009 and we have received emails and letters from numerous students in the same predicament.

There are no doubt many, many more such cases.

I have submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, to determine how many young people are without their SETA certificates.

The complaints about SETA certification follow shortly after the Minister’s admission that 22 190 Further Education and Training (FET) certificates have been outstanding for over 6 months.

By failing to catch up with backlogs on SETA certificates, the Department of Higher Education is jeopardising the career prospects of young people.

We cannot afford a situation where people are getting trained, but cannot put their training to use to improve their lives. Minister Nzimande needs to ensure that his Department is delivering and not debilitating training opportunities.