Primary healthcare students in North West are threatening to boycott examinations today after they were told that the course they have registered for is not recognised by the SA Nursing Council and other health institutions.

Over 700 Taletso TVET College students in Lehurutshe near Zeerust said their future was doomed as they thought they had been studying towards being clinical assistants for the past three years.

They said they only learnt last week that their course was not a recognised qualification, when the campus management called them to a meeting to confirm what the students had heard from local health facilities.

The students said they first heard from health facilities in Zeerust they could not do their practicals there as their qualification was not acceptable.

The shocked students added they did not understand why the college awarded them with certificates for every level they completed.

"It's a waste of my whole three years and the college wants me to accept and just move on. It cannot be," said Seshego Moeng, a third-year student and also a student representative.

Taletso's student support officer Timile Senna admitted the course was not recognised, but referred all further inquiries to the college's corporate centre.

However, Higher Education Department spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said the course was designed to provide the students with both theoretical and practical experience in the health sector.

He said a student would then be issued with a national certificate (vocational) at different levels which can be used to pursue other health-related programmes.

Nkwanyana said the qualification was recognised for this purpose and blamed the misinformation on health officials' lack of knowledge.

"It is recognised. Their examination gets approved in the Department of Higher Education," he said.

"There is no point panicking. All this is happening because of [poor] knowledge or communication by officials in the clinics and hospitals."

Nkwanyana further warned that even though the course was recognised, it might be phased out.

He said both Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi were in discussions about the future of the course.

Nkwanyana said the discussion did not mean that the course was obsolete, but because there was a realisation that the country had enough professionals in the areas the course provided training for.

This matter is likely to deal another blow to the reputation of TVET colleges.

These colleges have struggled to convince many students that their qualifications are widely recognised. Others also feel TVETs only exist to accommodate those who failed to reach universities.

tshehleb@sowetan.co.za