In South Africa, there are fifty TVET colleges with over 250 campuses. These institutions provide comprehensive training across various disciplines, including engineering, media, hospitality, business, utilities, and tourism.
The Department of Higher Education revealed that TVET colleges have planned to enroll a total of 482 244 learners in all programmes for the academic year of 2024. Of these, 421 518 learners will enroll in Ministerial programmes and 166 634 of these are new learners.
The Department plans to fund a total of 407 762 learners and the cost for the additional enrolments will be covered by the National Skills Fund, Setas, learners and the reserve fund used at TVET colleges.
Last year, the budget for TVET Colleges increased. However, the Department explained the following:
However, considering the increase of the programme cost and increase in the compensation of employee for the year 2024 which amounts to over 10%, in real terms the budget allocated to TVET Colleges is declining.
Due to this, Ministerially funded enrolment will decrease by more than 15% next year, leaving less space for new TVET College students to enter.
"This has been the trend in the last few years because the base budget has barely been increasing," said the Department.
2024 TVET College Calendar
NCV Programmes
Term 1 classes for NC(V) programmes commence on 15 January and conclude on 10 March. Supplementary examinations take place from 13 February to 8 March.
Term 2 starts on 3 April and concludes on 14 June. Term 3 kicks off on 9 July and concludes on 20 September, with 14 days allocated for internal examinations.
The academic year concludes in Term 4, starting on 1 October and ending on 1 November. Additional components such as Life Skills & Computer Literacy (P2) are scheduled from 28 October to 1 November, with examinations from 4 November to 6 December.
The colleges close for the year on 11 December. In total, students can expect 177 lecturing days and 210 staff service days throughout the year.
NATED Programmes
Business and Utility Studies
Semester 1 classes commence on 8 January and conclude on 20 March. Term 2 of the first semester starts on 3 April and ends on 17 May, with examinations from 20 May to 14 June.
Semester 2's Term 3 commences on 9 July, concluding on 20 September. Term 4 starts on 1 October, ending on 1 November, with examinations from 5 November to 6 December. The year concludes on 11 December, summing up to 153 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
Natural Science Studies
Trimester 1 classes start on 8 January and end on 20 March. Examinations for this trimester take place from 25 March to 19 April, with the colleges closing on 19 April.
Trimester 2 commences on 13 May, concluding on 20 May, and examinations from 24 July to 16 August, with the colleges closing on 16 August.
Trimester 3 starts on 2 September and ends on 10 September, with examinations from 15 November to 9 December. The year wraps up on 11 December, resulting in 142 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
