Question NW2627 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Reply:

The process to establish Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College is outlined on Chapter 2 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, Act 16 of 2006 which says the Minister, after consultation with the institution, may, by notice in the Gazette and from money appropriated for this purpose, establish a public-

(a) Technical and Vocational Education and Training College; or

(b) Community Education and Training College.

The notice in the Gazette must set out -

(a) The date of the establishment of the College:

(b) Whether the college is a technical and vocational education and training college or the college is a community education and training college;

(c) The name of the College; and 

(d) The physical location and address of the college.

The University is established in terms of Higher Education Act 101 of 1997 which says on chapter 3 the Minister may after consulting Council on Higher Education, by notice in the Gazette and from money appropriated for this purpose by Parliament, establish a university. 

b) new colleges or college campuses the same as the process to establish universities?

The process of establishing a new university is the responsibility of the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.  It should be noted that the cost of developing a new university is very high and will require Cabinet approval and the appropriation of funds through the National Treasury process. At this time in South Africa’s development trajectory, there are many competing needs and given the current fiscal constraints, funding for new universities is limited and will require more feasibility studies to ascertain the probabilities of establishing new institutions in the future, more so in remote areas to limit the influx and movement of students into cities. 

Cabinet has approved the establishment of new universities in Ekurhuleni and Hammanskraal. A feasibility study is underway in this regard, and this will advise on the size and shape of these two institutions.

In respect to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, the process of establishing new colleges or college campuses is exactly the same as that set out for Universities.

At present the Department is implementing new infrastructure for TVET Colleges as follows:

Msinga Campus   of UMgungundlovu TVET College at Cwaka 

Greytown Campus of Umgungundlovu TVET College at Greytown

Umzimkhulu Campus of Esayidi TVET College at Umzimkhulu 

Bhambanana Campus of Umfolozi TVET College at Bhambanana

Nkandla A Campus of Umfolozi TVET College at Nkandla Town

Nkandla B Campus of Umfolozi TVET College at Nkumgamathe

Vryheid Engineering Campus of Mthashana TVET College at Vryheid

Nongoma Campus of Mthashana TVET College at Nongoma

Kwagqikasi Campus of Mthashana TVET College at Nongoma

Giyani Campus of Letaba TVET College at Giyani

Balfour Campus of Gert Sibande TVET College at Balfour

Aliwal North Campus of Ikhala TVET College at Aliwal North

Sterkspruit Campus TVET College of Ikhala at Sterkspruit

Ngqungqushe Campus of Ingwe TVET College at Lusikisiki

Graaff Reneitt Campus of East Cape Midlands at Graaff Reneitt

Thabazimbi Campus of Waterberg TVET College at Thabazimbi.

At present there are no further funds to construct new campuses or colleges.