Varsity College does not care about me.

Let me start by saying - I first went to Varsity College (Cape Town campus) - where I was always treated unfairly due to the colour of my skin. Its not difficult to believe as this is South Africa and it is Cape Town. Majority of the staff were just there to pass another day and get to go home, instead of actually assisting with the students. I study BBAH (Bachelor of Business Admin in Hospitality)

I did not pass all my modules due to some health difficulties and tragedy in my personal life, in which Varsity College is not sympathetic about. (This includes suicide attempts) I don't think that as an education institution, Varsity College really nurtures students and their wellbeing. (which is very important - if they understood the pressure and stress that comes from studying at any institution)

From this I moved to Pretoria and attended the Pretoria campus to be closer to my parents in terms of health and mental stability. At the Pretoria campus I only had a couple modules to finish up (repeating final year modules)

I found it a struggle. Lecturers who lecture in using Afrikaans words that I do not understand. Not to mention that culture of staff walking past that don't greet you when you respectfully greet them or even worse those who greet in Afrikaans knowing that you don't understand the language. This just proves to be condescending and patronising.

I will not even begin to speak about the ****phobic comments by lecturers in classes. Yes, I am *******ual and I really did not think that Varsity College would discriminate against me for being black AND ***.

The HOD is never available. NEVER available. When trying to contact him personally he doesn't answer his phone nor does he reply. It has always been a huge ordeal to communicate with anyone at Varsity College that is SUPPOSED to help you!!!

There is no support that you get from Varsity College - for some reason you are expected to just figure it out on your own.

From repeating third year modules I failed another module - PLEASE understand that there is no communication from the school. We are supposed to receive SMS notification once marks are out - this never happened for me. Instead I would receive notifications regarding fees that have to be paid. Notifications regarding some sort of event the school is hosting that requires money. Everything requires money. And maybe that's all the institution is about.

From failing this extra module and not being told that marks have been released. One does not even have knowledge whether to prepare for a supplementary exam or not. "Why not access your student portal and check the marks yourself before being notified?" - great. There's often times the student portal is not working or it glitches on MANY occasions. I was not even able to check my marks or the student PAS (which by the way always changes at the most inconvenient times. imagine knowing you're writing an exam on a certain day, prepare, and also plan your life around it i.e making arrangements at work to write - only for it to be changed to another day for reasoned unbeknown to the student) to check for dates of supplementary exams. I MISSED MY SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM. Meaning I have to repeat this entire module once again.

I had to register for 2019 (WHICH COSTS ALOT OF MONEY) (second semester module only) - I attended every class and worked very hard. It is now December 2019 - my last exam was written in September. On the day of the exam, me and two other students in the class did not appear on the register and was told we cannot write. We rushed to the student reception in a panic as it was almost time to write the exam. At the student reception we were told that we cannot write because we weren't registered for the 2019 year? Yet we paid for our tuition? So tell me...if Varsity College is receiving copious amounts of money in tuition fees from people with the reference being a student or name of student - why is it not a concern that maybe we should be contacted since we are not even registered?

While trying to sort this issue out just so that we can write the exam - we asked to see our HOD to explain the story to him as maybe he will understand it better. We were told he is not available and was not in the office that day. We ended up being passed to write the exam and were given letters to say that we can write for proof for the invigilator. (I'm not sure if its important that I mention that I and the other two students who experienced the same problem were indeed black).

I have not received a single notification that marks have been released. When trying to log into the student portal to check for myself - it does not work. I cannot log in nor can I change my password. The portal just does not let me. I tried to contact my HOD who does not reply or answer his calls. When calling the campus I was told that he is on leave.

After this I explained that I just need to know if I passed or not (at this point of repeating this module over and over again I don't even care about the mark. I just want to know if its a pass or fail) I explained that I cannot log into my student portal - only for the nonchalant lady at the student reception to tell me that I need to contact the "IT guy" - this is a phone conversation I had with her. I am currently sitting on the edge of my seat just trying to figure out whether I passed or not.

I just want to graduate next year. That's it. just one module that I've now repeated 4 years in a row together with thousands of Rands that have come out of both my parents and my own pocket as I am also a working student. My course, BBAH is also being phased out, this may mean that I won't be able to do the course (2nd year Financial Management) again next year as it will not be available.

My experience at Varsity College has truly been the worst experience of my life that has caused medical issues in my life. I plead that someone hears my outcry that Varsity College really does not care about me. AT ALL.