In recent years, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has invested more than R2.8 billion in an effort to improve post-school education and ensure its programmes and outcomes are successful.
The R2.8 billion was invested to develop and refurbish 16 new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses. It is believed that this will contribute to the expansion of the TVET services in the coming months.
Ten of the TVET college campuses have been completed. These ten colleges include the Thabazimbi, Umzimkhulu, Graaf-Reinet, Nongoma Msinga, Aliwal North, Kwagqikazi, Ngqungqushe, Nkandla A and Bhambanani colleges, all of which are operational.
It was also revealed that three new campuses, located in Greytown, Sterkspruit and Balfour will be completed in 2023. The remaining three college sites will be completed by the end of the 2023/2024 financial year and begin receiving students in the following financial year.
The DHET also invested R68 million to expand 34 Centres of Specialisation at 20 TVET colleges in South Africa. This will assist the department to achieve positive outcomes as part of the Centres of Specialisation Programme.
The Centres of Specialisation Programme aims to address the demand for priority trades needed for the implementation of the government's National Development Plan in general and its National Infrastructure Plan. This will simultaneously contribute towards building the capacity of colleges to deliver trade qualifications with trade partners.
At least 16 TVET colleges now have 35 Trade Test Centres. Under Apartheid, there was only one Trade Test centre nationally, ‘Olifantsfontein’, now known as Indlela.
The DHET also entered into several partnerships with the private sector to provide training and to give workplace exposure to both TVET college lecturers and students.
Additionally, the department established entrepreneurship hubs at TVET Colleges to support students to move into self-employment after the completion of their programmes.
