The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is introducing digitised systems aimed at eliminating delays in issuing TVET college certificates and improving access to workplace-based learning opportunities for graduates.
The announcement was made by Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube during the Esayidi TVET College graduation ceremony held at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre.
DHET Moves To End TVET Certificate Backlogs
Addressing graduates, Dube-Ncube acknowledged the frustration experienced by many TVET college students who have waited months, and in some cases years, to receive their certificates or secure workplace placements after completing their studies.
She said the department is implementing digital systems that will significantly reduce these delays.
“I know this and the department knows this. I want to say to you today, that must be and is becoming a thing of the past.
"We are actively developing and rolling out digitised, fast-tracked systems for both certification and placement -- systems designed to close the gap between the day you complete your final assessment and the day that certificate is in your hand, and a workplace opportunity is within your reach,” Dube-Ncube said.
According to the Deputy Minister, the reforms form part of the department's broader plan to modernise administrative systems and improve the transition from education to employment.
"A delayed certificate is a delayed livelihood, and a delayed placement is a delayed future. Young people cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for a system to catch up with their qualifications. We are fixing that because our graduates deserve nothing less."
Faster Certification To Improve Employment Opportunities
Dube-Ncube said issuing certificates more quickly will enable graduates to enter the job market sooner while also creating opportunities for those who want to become entrepreneurs.
She explained that faster access to certificates will make it easier for graduates to register businesses, apply for funding and participate in procurement opportunities without unnecessary administrative delays.
The Deputy Minister encouraged graduates to view their qualifications as "start-up capital" that can be used to launch businesses in sectors including electrical contracting, welding, baking, agriculture and construction.
TVET Colleges Key To Economic Growth
Reaffirming government's commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, Dube-Ncube described the sector as essential to South Africa's economic growth and skills development.
"There is no credible pathway to inclusive economic growth in South Africa that does not run directly through colleges like Esayidi," she said.
She noted that South Africa continues to experience shortages of artisans, technicians and other mid-level technical professionals needed to support infrastructure development, industrialisation and economic expansion.
Stronger Industry Partnerships Needed
The Deputy Minister called for closer collaboration between TVET colleges and employers to ensure graduates leave college with skills that meet current and future labour market needs.
She said industry should play a greater role in shaping curricula and providing workplace-based learning opportunities for students.
At the same time, she challenged TVET colleges to become leaders in applied innovation rather than simply responding to industry demands.
" A TVET college that only follows industry will always be one step behind. A TVET college that also leads on applied research and problem-solving becomes a genuine partner in South Africa’s innovation economy. That is the standard I am setting for our colleges going forward," Dube-Ncube said.
Graduates Encouraged To Embrace Lifelong Learning
The Deputy Minister urged graduates to continue developing their skills throughout their careers, saying rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies are transforming the world of work.
"The qualification you receive today is a strong foundation — it is not a finish line. The world of work is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, big data and advanced automated technologies at a pace none of us can fully predict.”
Rural TVET Graduates Have Equal Opportunities
Dube-Ncube also rejected the perception that students graduating from rural TVET colleges have fewer opportunities than their urban counterparts.
She said institutions such as Esayidi TVET College produce highly skilled graduates whose qualifications are nationally recognised and valued by employers across South Africa.
“Rural does not mean limited. It means resourceful. It means graduates who understand community, who know how to make a plan, who carry the discipline of this region into whatever workplace or enterprise they enter. Do not let geography shrink your ambition," she told graduates.
