Students fed up with ‘illegal college’
Hole in the wall - the college in question, situated on the upper level parking area of an Empangeni shopping complex
The doors of learning are shabby
Students currently attending a training college in Empangeni have labelled the institution an ‘illegal school’.
One student - who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation - said she paid R3 000 to the World Training College in December.‘This was for a full-time, three-month computer course. I am meant to graduate at the end of this month and I am still completely computer illiterate,’ she said. ‘We have only had two computer classes since December and spend the rest of our time doing life orientation and learning how to answer telephones.’
‘The college has no windows, nor any ventilation for the 80-plus students who are in the classroom at any one time. ‘There are no toilet facilities or water in the premises. We do not have a computer literate lecturer and there are only 12 computers,’ she says.
Resigned
A second student said she registered for a Secretarial Administration course in January. ‘The course fee was R11 850 and we began in January. But so far I haven’t had one single class. There were never any teachers, and no books. ‘When we asked about this, we were told the teachers were coming. They never came and I left last week, forfeiting my registration fee. ‘I am lucky not to have lost too much. Many students paid large amounts up front for their courses,’ said the unhappy young lady.
‘Pushing it’
Phone calls to the institution for comment proved fruitless.
A lecturer refused to call the Principal to the telephone for comment, and also refused to divulge the Principal’s name. ‘Lady, you are pushing it,’ he said, when asked for the name.
The Principal - Mazda Makhaye - did eventually agree to a tour of the premises.
Shabby linoleum floors, little or no furniture and windowless classrooms greeted us.
The college entrance is literally a hole in the wall of a shopping centre parking lot. ‘We are an independent college and I have had no complaints myself, but would be more than happy to attend to these students’ complaints should they feel they can come and discuss the matter with me,’ she said.
