Graduation ceremonies at CPUT continue amid dental programme crisis
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology pushes ahead with graduations and a return to campus.
Image: Lilita Gcwabe
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is proceeding with graduations and an on-campus return, along with an "action plan" to address issues for dental technology students.
However, the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC) maintains that the university's dental technology programme remains suspended, leaving students feeling abandoned and their futures jeopardised by the ongoing deadlock.
"I feel sad because I'm supposed to be part of the cohort that will be graduating, but because of all these delays, I find myself being pushed to the side, forced to watch from the sidelines,” one fourth-year dental technology student said.
The student added that the uncertainty is compounded by the lack of practical training, saying their graduation prospects remain unclear "since we still haven't been to the labs".
The fourth-year student’s concerns come amid tensions between CPUT and the SADTC, leaving many in the programme caught between the institution and the council.
In a newsletter dated "April 7" and seen by reporters, CPUT announced a return to normal operations, stating that "all on-campus academic activities will continue from Wednesday 8 April without disruption," with "in-person classes" resuming.
The university also confirmed that graduation ceremonies would proceed, saying the Autumn series "will go ahead without disruption" and that "all student suspensions related to the current shutdown… will be lifted with immediate effect."
On the dental programmes, spokesperson of the university, Lauren Kansley, maintained that there is no threat to its academic standing, saying, "Dental Technology remains an accredited programme by the Council on Higher Education.
SADTC is responsible for ensuring the standards of the programme are upheld and should endorse students once they graduate so that they may be employed. They have refused to do the latter."
Kansley explained that for the past few years the SADTC has 'extended its powers and asserted that they should also participate in CPUT’s administering of assessments and be involved in the learning and teaching.'
She said that the university has stressed that this is not the function of the oversight stakeholder and that they have now escalated this matter to Ministerial level of the Department of Higher Education and Training as well as to the Department of Health.
But the SADTC has not backed down.
The council reiterated that "the dental technology programme is currently suspended" and that it has not accredited the programme at CPUT. It emphasised that while institutions may be accredited by the CHE, "professional programmes must be accredited by the regulator for those professions."
The SADTC warned it "cannot accredit the institution until it (CPUT) agrees to the conditions for accreditation," raising concerns about the university's recognition of its authority under the Dental Technicians Act.
Meanwhile, Kansley has indicated that outstanding academic, operational, and governance matters, including those affecting dental students, will only be finalised after the current graduation period, with a deadline set for the end of April.