Earlier this year, Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande revealed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college principals around South Africa would sign performance agreements.
These performance agreements prioritised the creation of industry partnerships to facilitate the placement of students for Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Nzimande said that the placement of students will be an important indicator for assessing the performance of TVET colleges.
However, the minister believes that it is not enough for TVET college principals to simply sign these agreements. In an effort to ensure that all they abide by their performance agreements, college principals will be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
“Holding TVET college principals to account on work placement is informed by the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training, which requires Work Integrated Learning to be a central component of the college programmes,” explained Nzimande.
The Minister also requested a special report which lists all 50 TVET colleges and the industry partnerships they have. This information may also be used by the DHET to assist TVET colleges build strategic relationships with industry partners.
Nzimande said, “Where colleges hardly have any such relationships, I also need an explanation as to why and for a strategy to be developed to realise such. If need be ,please come to my office for any additional help in forging these partnerships.”
It is estimated that around 3.6 million youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years old are in any education, employment or training.
Nzimande concluded it will be a travesty of justice and indictment of leaders to allow inaction to allow TVET colleges to become a dead-end for students.
They believe that the proper implementation of these performance agreements will aid the department's quest to ensure TVET colleges students are not left destitute of graduation.
