Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges commenced with classes earlier this week as they kick off the 2023 academic year. This comes after the final set of results were received on 17 January 2023.
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, revealed that the total planned TVET enrolment for the academic year 2023 is 556 415 enrollments. This as TVET colleges planned headcount enrolment for 2023 is 497 032 for the ministerial approved programmes with additional 59 383 headcount enrolment for programmes that is funded through other funding sources.
While the Minister is satisfied that more students are considering TVET colleges as a viable post-school education option, this is still not enough enrolments to meet the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) enrolment targets.
According to the National Development Plan (NDP), the DHET plans to attain 2,5 million enrolments by 2030. The Minister said the department is working hard to ensure the accelerate the growth of the TVET sector.
Minister Nzimande also announced plans to standardise registration and admission processes at TVET colleges. This is expected to assist the DHET in their goal of migrating from manual to online registration processes at TVET college around the country.
Several TVET colleges are already embracing technology and the use of processes to register and enrol students.
We have also witnessed student growth in several colleges who have now begun to embrace the use of technology in their enrolment processes and reducing the number of walk-ins in TVET colleges.
The Minister added that ten colleges will be introducing new academic programmes in robotics. This forms part of the department's plans to ensure TVET colleges include academic programmes that respond to the changing economy and world of work.
“Ten of our colleges will also be introducing a new programme in Robotics in this academic year. This is part of our curriculum transformation strategy for the TVET sector in ensuring that our colleges remain responsive to the needs of a changing economy,” declared Nzimande.
Some TVET colleges are still open for 2023 registrations. Students are encouraged to apply for enrollment.
