4.5 Port Elizabeth FET College a) History and context Ms J Grobler, Principal, led the presentation which highlighted the following key issues: . Port Elizabeth College was the largest of the eight multi campus FET colleges in the Eastern Cape, currently boasting a student population of more than 5000 and was made up of a merger between three Technical Colleges within the Nelson Mandela Metro namely Russell Road, Iqhayiya and Bethelsdorp, each with its own rich and illustrious history. . The merger process took place during 2002 and in 2003 when the current Principal Mrs Heather Joy Grobler was appointed. There were three campuses and six sites of delivery, namely Russell Road Campus comprising of Russell Road, Victoria and Erica, Struandale Campus, comprising of Iqhayiya, Algoa and Zincedeni and finally the Dower Campus. . Results: Results in FET colleges remained a serious concern nationally as the sector struggled to find suitably qualified lecturers who were mostly employed in the private sector. There was a serious concern with the pass rate of maths and applied accounting in the college. The college had developed a foundation programme aimed to assist learners who were struggling to cope with the above subjects. . Drop-out: The drop-out rate out of students in the college remained a serious concern with various contributing factors. In 2010 the college experienced instability and during that period many students dropped- out due to the fact the college was struggling financially. . Partnerships: The college had good partnerships with the business chamber and SETAs. The college had a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) for NC(V) students to articulate to degree programmes after completion. The majority of the students at the college were placed in various industries during the June holidays to obtain work experience.