The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has placed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges as a viable alternative for students wanting to further their education. Currently, there are 50 TVET Colleges with around 280 campuses across South Africa.
Higher Education Department deputy director-general Sam Zungu says about 500,000 enrolments are expected at TVET Colleges this year.
Despite the government's push to position TVET colleges as a study option for students and the ambitious goal of 2.5 million TVET enrollments by 2030, enrolments at TVET Colleges have declined due to the government's budget cuts in 2025. Only around 500,000 learners are expected to enrol at TVET colleges this year.
The Director-General says the introduction of blended learning models could aid the department in its quest to increase enrollment numbers. However, the practical component of learning lauded by TVET colleges could be lost.
The challenge of us going full online as TVET colleges or blended is that some of the programmes require the Practical component because that's what distinguishes us from universities.
Zungu emphasised the importance of destigmatizing TVET colleges among young people. This as TVET colleges can provide students with skills that can lead to employment or even entrepreneurial opportunities.
You can acquire a trade or a technical skill that will not only give you an option to go and look for jobs but also you can actually start your own business.
Zunga acknowledged that work must be done to ensure the programmes offered at TVET colleges are responsive to the needs of the economy. This as advancements in technology could make some of the skills being taught at colleges obsolete.
Former Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande reported that the TVET sector has seen a positive development with increased partnerships with industry stakeholders and funding organisations. This collaboration is crucial for ensuring that TVET programmes align with industry needs and provide graduates with better employment prospects.
Zunga adds that infrastructure development and enhancing course offerings are critical for the success of the sector and by extension, its graduates.
We have invested quite a lot in the development of infrastructure to make it more habitable and also to make it more advanced in terms of technology.
Zunga says the introduction of occupational qualifications which are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Qualifications will also aid the success of students. However, this requires investment in staff with the relevant qualifications and skills needed to deliver the course offerings.
We will then need also to invest in developing and capacitating our staff members and making sure that our lecturers are well equipped with the latest developments.
Zunga pleaded with parents to learn more about TVET Colleges and their offerings as universities are not the only path to success.
We hope that our parents will also view this as an option for their kids instead of them going to universities and coming back and make a form part of that long queue of unemployed graduates.
TVET Colleges Not Without Challenges
For all the merits of TVET Colleges, they are not without their challenges. Last week, the Parliamentary Committee for Higher Education conducted an oversight visit at Taletso TVET College in Mafikeng, in the North West.
Taletso TVET College does not have a permanent principal and critical positions, such as corporate services, academic services and innovation services, remain vacant. The committee called on the Department of Higher Education and Training to assist the college in filling critical vacancies in order to assist students.
Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie slammed the college for filling critical positions, which affects the quality of education and impacts daily operations.
I am certain that come the end of March 2025, there will be reports of underspending on compensation of employees. This poses significant challenges, as it becomes difficult to justify requests for much-needed funding if the sector fails to fill vacant posts.
Letsie warned that failure to spend budget allocations meant for staffing could lead to reduced funding in the future.
The committee acknowledged that these challenges occur around the country and are not exclusive to Taletso TVET College.
Taletso is not the only institution struggling with the appointment of senior leaders. The department must step in, particularly to ensure that funded positions are filled. The Department of Higher Education and Training is failing to provide adequate governance support to these institutions.
