Question NW497 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

Reply:

1. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges will continue to offer programmes as long as they are responsive to labour market demands. For articulation purposes, colleges will offer programmes at level 5 and 6 in the main occupational and vocational programmes, and some mid-level occupational programmes. Currently some colleges are offering Higher Certificates at level 5 in partnership with Universities and Universities of Technology, which allows students to articulate from level 4 to level 5 programmes.
2. Government expects that TVET colleges will become the cornerstone of the country’s skills development system as captured in the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training. TVET colleges are central to the provision of skills within the post-school education and training system. The main purpose of TVET colleges is to train young school leavers, with the required skills, knowledge and attitudes for employment or self-employment within the labour market, or to access higher learning.
3. Fundamentally, the role of TVET colleges will not change. Its purpose has been, and will continue to be the supplier of mid-level skilled workers to the labour market. What needs to change is the responsiveness of colleges to such demands. In this regard, the Department is working towards transforming programme offerings in colleges, so that they become more responsive to the labour market. In some instances, the current curricula will have to be updated to make them more relevant. The latter process is ongoing in priority programme areas. Several occupational qualifications have also been developed which allows colleges to offer them on demand. The complete revision of college programmes and curricula is a medium to long-term process.