Established in 2015, Community Education and Training Colleges (CET) are third-tier institutions that form part of the Post-School Education and Training system.
According to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, if well-organized, the sector has the potential to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by those who are unemployed, under-employed, or out of school. This group is better referred to as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
CET Colleges were established to assist young people who currently do not attend school, acquire a variety of skills which include, enhancing their education and basic qualifications, second chance learning, non-formal programmes and the provision of skills programmes to contribute to different forms of livelihoods
During his speech at the two-day-long Community Education and Training (CET) Summit held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Wednesday the Minister further pointed out that a wide range of evidence shows that effective vocational programmes are an important part of the answer.
In structuring the programs for CET colleges, Nzimande also urged his delegates to primarily focus on the National List of Occupations in High Demand (OIHD) in the country.
They identified 345 occupations that are in high demand out of a total of 1 500 registered in the Department’s Organising Framework for Occupations.
The Minister further stated that many of the vocations on the list are linked to key regions and sectors designated as critical to the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan's success.
These occupations are said to be associated with areas such as the digital economy, energy, infrastructure development, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture, data scientists, web developer, computer network, technician, electrical engineer and concentrated solar power process controller among others.
