It was just last August when I was introduced to a “school” here in Kingston that offers certification in a number of Digital Marketing Courses.
I called and after being weaseled into the system, I paid the deposit and within a few weeks, I was enrolled and was now considered a student. This is where things took a turn for the worst! Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are my own and not meant to defame any brand, entity, or person.
Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
During the first week, I noticed that the things that were being taught were done in a way where we were not really grasping the material or concepts. There was no real schedule or syllabus which we all thought was weird. A few of the students and I thought that because it was a new style of teaching deemed as “self-paced”, maybe that was the reason things were off. Everything we saw in the Online Brochure, the website and the main company website was nothing like we were being taught.
The Instructor Quit
Things progressed and got worst so much that we learned our instructor had quit due to lack of payment from the school and her contract was breached several times. By this time, more than half the students had dropped out as it was an investment and they could not be bothered with the foolishness and just continued working and others found online courses that were better. We were without an instructor for quite some time with no communication from the “school”. We finally got a WhatsApp message about 2 weeks later from a new Instructor who said she would be taking over our class. This new instructor was well informed, well-learned, and delivered the course in a way where we were finally learning and understanding and to top it all off, she actually came to all the classes! In the midst of this, the CEO invited himself into the WhatsApp group and sent his apologies and said he would come to our class to discuss the way forward. Two weeks went by, NO CEO … another week went by STILL NO CEO!! No day out of the blue he showed up and gave a lack-luster apology in the style of a conman where it was all smokes and mirrors but nothing substantial or of value.
He made his Wife Call
Things went on pretty great up until March when COVID-19 hit!!! This is where shit hit the fan for this “school”. The last communication I received from these people was March 23, 2020, saying that the centers to sit the exam were closed worldwide and Islandwide so they are doing their best to keep us informed. This was a lie! During this time, I was making payments consistently on a weekly basis via bank transfer and did not receive a receipt or note of balance. I called the school and followed up with emails and cc’d the CEO .. still nothing! Just two (2) weeks ago the CEO’s wife called me with whom I’ve never met or done business without introducing herself. The reason I knew she was his wife is that these are very vocal on Social Media, they’ve posted wedding pictures , when their company was listed on the Junior Stock Market and many other things. Sis was like ” When are you bringing the money? I of course was pissed and eventually hung up and after that call, as you can guess it … nothing! Just last week I learned that I was not the only one having issues with this “school” as there were other students who had made payments and still not able to get the exam date and there was no communication and there were even instructors who had not been paid…. since last year!!! It’s a mess!! This is literally like a Patty Shop, but at a Patty Shop you get the patty. Here I am one year later and still not certified.
I’m writing this public post because we’ve had enough, we would like to be given a date to sit our exams as this school was not cheap OR we would like a refund and a public apology from the CEO. So many of us have missed opportunities we know we are qualified for simply because we have not been certified because we can’t sit exams and have not heard from this school.
If you are a student or instructor at this school, comment below and use the hashtag #digitalpattyshop and tag them on Social Media.
#Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
#Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
#Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
#Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
#Jamaica’s Digital E-Learning Patty Shop
