Central Johannesburg TVET College (CJC) is a fairly new institution only established in 2003. It’s one of the eight Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Gauteng province.

The first thing we like about CJC is they’re well-established with eight campuses in Joburg. Each campus is located within a radius of approximately 10km from the Central Office in Parktown.

We also like that the college offers an extensive list of courses and programmes. CJC currently has more than 20 courses and 7 programmes to choose from.

The courses they have are nationally accredited programmes that are either National Technical Education (NATED) or National Certificate (Vocational) NC(V). 

Moreover, they offer quality-assured skills programmes in partnership with Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).

Their students love that CJC is accessible, having at least one branch near where they reside. Students also appreciate how CJC is accommodating by having programmes for varying subject interests, talents, and skills students want to focus on. 

CJC has over 700 faculty members employed in all branches combined. Each instructor is thoroughly screened and trained to handle students and teach in their areas of expertise.

Performance-wise, students’ parents and guardians are quite impressed with the college’s role in their children’s academic growth and achievements. 

We’re only iffy about the college’s student servicing, particularly their availability and student assistance. There are a handful of complaints from potential students and guardians about CJC’s hotlines never being picked up.

Also, we hear it’s difficult to reach them via email. We’re guessing the best way to do so is to actually show up and inquire in person, which can be a bit of a hassle.

We’re also disappointed to find that the college’s facilities aren’t PWD-friendly. There is a lack of ramps for wheelchairs and a lot of steps, which can be a challenge for injured and disabled individuals.

Whitestone College (Pty) Ltd. is a Private Further Education and Training College established in 2011. Since then, they’ve had more than 27,500 enrollees, with a majority of whom left the college with certifications and diplomas. 

A notable feature Whitestone College has is its impressive average pass rate of 95%. They’re preferred over other community colleges because of their credibility.

We like that the institution is accredited by several organisations namely Umalusi, Council for Quality Assurance in General & Further Education, QCTO, and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations.

In addition, Whitestone College was registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a private Further Education and Training provider just recently. They’re also recognised by various Sector Education & Training Authorities (SETAs).

They currently offer almost 30 courses in engineering, health care studies, information technology, business, media, and public service.

Tuition fee-wise, Whitestone College is commended for its affordable college fees. The price and duration of courses depend on what field the course belongs to but the fees could go as low as R 8,300. 

Courses in healthcare studies are more expensive with a tuition fee of R 16,350.

Another factor we found remarkable about this community college is they offer both online and on-site classes. 

We noticed though that Whitestone College is short on the number of instructors they have employed. With over 2,200 enrolled students, the college only has about 60 instructors.

There are several complaints from students saying instructors are always absent. We’re told there are even cases where there aren’t any instructors assigned to courses where there are enrolled students.

This is unsettling especially since the college demands full payment upfront.

Moreover, there are grievances about the college’s communication with their students. Students grumble that they’re often uninformed about schedules and guidelines, which is also a red flag for us.

Hillcross Business College is a private institution that’s an accredited provider of Further and Training Education qualifications. The college is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and is accredited by several regulatory bodies.

One remarkable hallmark of Hillcross Business College is they provide a supportive and flexible learning environment. The programmes they offer can be taken on a full or part-time basis, which is advantageous for those working while studying.

Hillcross Business College also allows students to take the courses on-site or online.

They offer several programme choices in engineering, legal studies, information technology, business management, media studies, and governance and leadership. Their students commend the courses they offer for their comprehensiveness.

The professors and instructors at Hillcross Business College are all high-qualified and practised professionals. Students look up to them for their impressive knowledge of the fields of studies they teach and their patience with students. 

We love that the college makes an effort to make education attainable by setting low tuition fees. For a programme that takes two years to complete, the tuition fee is around R 5,000- 6,000 for distance learning and R 6,000 – 7,000 for face-to-face classes.

On top of that, we love that Hillcross Business College has several scholarship opportunities that students can apply to. Guidelines are also set up on their website to assist students.

If this college has a weakness, it might be its weak administrative body. Firstly, we’re told representatives are unresponsive to students’ calls and emails, leaving their inquiries and concerns unattended.

We’re also concerned with the quality of the staff Hillcross Business College has. There are some complaints about their encounters with unhelpful and rude administrative staff.

As students’ and guardians’ first line of contact, being inactive and improper doesn’t really build a good impression.

The Gauteng College of Engineering And Technology started providing their services in 2011. They offer further education and training in engineering, business, finance and management, policy studies, computer studies, media studies, and hospitality.

They’re fully registered and partnered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. 

Moreover, they’re accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Media, Information and the Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA).

Another feature we found noteworthy is the college offers short skills programmes on varying subjects such as bookkeeping, typing skills, English for beginners, French for beginners, and Microsoft Office basics.

The Gauteng College of Engineering And Technology is proud of its 91% pass rate. They have over 2,700 graduates and have secured more than a thousand job placements.

Their students appreciate that the college offers quality courses at affordable prices. Students prefer attending Gauteng College of Engineering And Technology because of its innovative and thoroughly-designed programmes.

The professors who lead classes at the community college are qualified academics. Students praise their instructors for their expertise and passion for teaching.

We think their administrative processes need a little bit of work though. We’re disappointed to hear that some alumni complain about not receiving their certificates months after they’ve completed their programmes.

Their customer servicing is inconsistent too, which is a red flag for us. Students grumble that the college’s representatives are inactive in going through inquiries and complaints.

Rosebank College is part of the Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) and has produced around 14,000 graduates since its establishment in 2012. They’re a well-established learning institution with eight branches all over South Africa.

The IIE is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution. Also, they’re internationally accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).

Rosebank College has meticulously-designed programmes and assessments aligned with the standards of the organisations. Moreover, they assure that the instructors who handle the courses they offer are credible and competent.

Rosebank College offers degree programmes and courses that will earn you a certificate or a diploma. They offer a wide selection of programmes in IT, commerce, education, humanities, and finance.

Another thing we like about Rosebank College is they offer flexible learning. 

Courses are taught online or face-to-face. Students also have the option to take courses on a full or part-time basis.

In terms of Rosebank College’s weaker points, we found their tuition fees for a programme that’ll earn you a Higher Certificate significantly higher than other community colleges. 

For example, a fulltime course on Construction and Engineering Drafting that last only a year costs R 30,490.

Moreover, we noted that their internal logistics need a lot of work. Students complain that they’re often left in the dark regarding course materials needed, schedules, and updates. 

Frustratingly, the processing of document and refund requests apparently also takes a while. We’re told releasing of certificates can be delayed too.

Lastly, their online platform, which is used for registration, payments, and even for submission of assessments, is faulty – which is disappointing, especially considering the hefty tuition fees.