The OP didn't say how long the student had taken to do 45 hours. A few long breaks, where the log book still has the hours, but the brain has lost the motor skills, and only has uncertain recollection of procedures, would explain it at any school. The use of the electronics in the circuit is strange, but some Instructor might have suggested it as a ground homework aid to learn the circuit - and been misunderstood.
(Not an instructor, but 43 years teaching teenagers gave me a few weird interpretations of what colleagues had said - and of what I had said.)