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ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY Policy

Waterberg TVET CollegeRef: https://www.waterbergcollege.co.za/documents/Policies/ATTENDANCE%20AND%20PUNCTUALITY%20Policy%20(CURRENTLY%20UNDER%20REVIEW%20(2021))%201.pdf

Official source

Source domain: waterbergcollege.co.za

Collected on 17 June 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 18 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is the “Attendance and Punctuality Policy” (Policy No: 0070) for South African public Further Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, issued by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). It sets expectations that students be 100% “present” at scheduled classes, defines how attendance and lateness must be monitored and recorded, and specifies consequences for poor attendance/punctuality through staged warnings, reviews, and possible exclusion. It also outlines how authorised absences are handled, includes provisions for students with disabilities or support needs, and links attendance to examination eligibility (minimum 80% attendance per subject). The policy is marked “CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW,” with an effective/approval date of 04/03/2015 and a next revision date listed as “CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW.”

Facts

Reference

https://www.waterbergcollege.co.za/documents/Policies/ATTENDANCE%20AND%20PUNCTUALITY%20Policy%20(CURRENTLY%20UNDER%20REVIEW%20(2021))%201.pdf

Parties

Issuing authority

Key Takeaways

  • Policy title: Attendance and Punctuality Policy
  • Policy number: 0070
  • Issuing authority: Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
  • Effective/approval date: 04/03/2015
  • Approval by: College Council (Chairperson of Council signed)
  • Expectation: students 100% “present” at all scheduled classes (presence focus)
  • Attendance measurement: “present” level; consequences for attendance below agreed levels
  • Lateness handling: engage students arriving 10 minutes after start; record lateness with an “L”; late students not excluded unless health & safety/disruption
  • Stage 1: up to 3 formal warnings by lecturer before Stage 2
  • Stage 2 triggers: below 80% present; absent one+ sessions in a week; 4+ absences in any 4-week period; lateness twice in a week or 5+ times in any 4-week period; patterns of absence
  • Stage 2 limit: no more than 2 formal absence review meetings before Stage 3
  • Stage 3 outcomes: continued <80% present/persistent lateness/failure to improve; may lead to final written warning; possible cancellation of entry to final exam or exclusion
  • Unauthorised absence may lead to NSFAS payments being stopped for rest of term/trimester (where applicable)
  • Authorised absence requirements: agreed in advance with a college lecturer; attempts to schedule appointments outside college times
  • Authorised absence examples: sickness with medical/registered traditional healer certificate, court appearances, funerals, religious holidays, driving tests, work/Higher Education interviews, etc.
  • Examinations: student allowed to write exam for a subject with minimum 80% attendance per subject (including authorised absence and sickness)
  • Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
  • TVET Colleges
  • College Council
  • College Principals
  • College lecturers
  • Programme managers
  • Academic managers
  • Accounting Officer
  • Student Support Services
  • NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme)
  • Parents/employers
  • Court
  • Higher Education institutions
  • Government or voluntary organisations