Thread by @katjanechild

Vaal University of Tech offers a 2 yr course at +- R37 000 a year. It's called Non Destructive Testing- (for engineering maintenance). No one gets jobs because it is not industry recognised- which I confirmed with industry.
Of 92 former students who responded to me, 1 got work

The list of former students names with their employment status is heartbreaking.
The only students who got work in NDT industry did industry certified courses (between R12 000 to R50 000) The rest owe student loans and are unemployable.

VUT admits its graduates need practical training courses ( called Levels) in order for industry to comply with legislation when hiring people. Industry can't hire its graduates to do maintenance testing with their VUt degree- legally. So why offer course?

"We have been robbed of our future' said one student. One owes NSFAS 141 000 (including two years Res and food ) and VUT more than R20 000 but can't get work cause his diploma is not recognised. These students are debt ridden and unemployable.

How can VUT offer a course that no one can use? Former students want it to stop doing so as they feel conned, and got into huge NSFAS debt and then are unable to even qualify for jobs. The SA Institute of Welding told me VUT course too academic. Graduates can't do the job.

Those who got work had to requalify or work in different industry, I have checked with 93 former students. 90% are unemployed. NSFAS wont get repaid so taxpayer also suffers. I think VUT has some answering to do.

VUT NDT graduate "Every company shuts the door 4 us, for us to work we have to do practical courses at other NDT institutes, I'm 32 yrs, still unemployed. Parents expect us to help then at this stage. Yet, we r the ones asking 4 money. Sometimes we even have suicidal thoughts,"

The question is why does NSFAS fund a course that cannot be used in the engineering and factory industries, for which it is needed. Why does CHE, and the SA Qualifications Authority & dept of higher ed accredit the NDT course. 1 in 93 students employed. ( that means 99% won't be)

Those who teach the NDT students practicals at VUT were former VUT students who don't have industry experience.
Imagine studying a degree in education only to find out you couldn't work as teacher or studying a MBCHB & you couldn't work as a doc- cause qualification meaningless.

Vut defends it's course saying some students get work and it's accredited. It is legally accredited but not recognised. But admits that students have approached it about issue but deny that it's true.

Vut denies issue but I have meeting minutes showing industry telling VC there isn't a space in NDT industry for such academic graduates.