Learners encouraged to examine the education possibilities at TVET colleges

5th February 2025
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has inspired learners to consider the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as being a valuable and practical choice for advancing their professions.

The Deputy Minister was talking during an oversight visit to the post-school education and teaching (PSET) institutions in the Western Cape this week.

Gondwe explained the TVET colleges as very important for job creation and youth skills development in the region.

The Deputy Minister frequented the West Coast College Vredenburg Campus, as well as the Cape Peninsula {University of Technological know-how (CPUT) Bellville Campus in Cape Town.

Gondwe's visits aimed toward examining the condition of readiness of higher education institutions across the country, ahead with the 2025 educational year.

Through the visit at West Coast College, she inspired learners to get pride in acquiring artisan skills as they offer fantastic entrepreneurship alternatives.

"I am very encouraged by what I'm seeing at TVET colleges, I believe they are the future of this country. TVETs are producing artisans with much needed skills [and] also offer opportunities for learners to acquire future skills, such as robotics, AI [Artificial intelligence], and get more info coding," Gondwe said.

At the second part of the visit, students at CPUT expressed fears about college student residences and also other services. The Deputy Minister directed the institution to operate with the Student Representative Council (SRC), to speedily solve the recognized problems.

The Deputy Minister’s visit to the Western Cape, follows her recent visit to higher education institutions in the Free State where she visited Goldfields TVET College and the Central University of Technology (CUT), at the Welkom tvet colleges open campus.

Throughout the visits, the Deputy Minister is accompanied by essential senior officers from Higher Education and Training, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The Deputy Minister’s dedicated Help Desk has also formed website part of the delegation, assisting with all higher education related queries on each visit.

The problem of funding and administrative issues confronted with the NSFAS was within the spotlight during the Free State leg from the visits.

"NSFAS needs to get its act together, in order read more to ensure that student allowances are paid on time with no delays. Delays cause serious challenges for learners; learners need allowances to eat and to buy hygiene products. This is important for their sense of wellbeing and dignity," Gondwe said.

Gondwe embarked on the state of readiness visits following a plan of action, announced by Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane at the special meeting of the Post Education and Training sector held in January more info 2025, to establish the state of readiness for the 2025 academic year.

The Deputy Minister's oversight is expected to continue in other provinces, with North West higher education institutions being the next on the list.
– SAnews.gov.za