When public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities reopened for the 2023 academic year, there were more than 1.1 million enrolments in these institutions. However, prospective students are said to be more attracted to universities, despite researching that skills offered in TVET colleges are sought after by employers.
It has been reported that a study by the National Advisory Council on Innovation found that TVET colleges had been essentially considered and portrayed as a provider of entry and mid-level skills to respond to social and economic development.
However, global trends have indicated that there are more students at vocational and technical institutions than there are at universities. TVET Colleges specialize in training people in such skills.
Technical occupations such as Engineering, Boilermaking, and Welding, just to mention a few, are among the top 100 occupations that are in demand in South Africa.
In an interview, South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association (SAFTA) President, Siphiwe Khumalo said:
These skills will assist young people in developing themselves, they can go find employment and equally create a work of their own.
While the National Development Plan aims to train 30 000 artisans a year by 2030, it has been revealed that there is a shortfall of 40 000 artisans in the country.
Experts have also shared that the country is in need of more skilled blue-collar workers such as farmers, artisans, and tradespeople.
According to Statistics South Africa, the youth in South Africa continues to be disadvantaged in the labour market with an unemployment rate higher than the national average.
“This sector is intended to provide the country with a specific set of vocational and occupational learnings that has to be matched to the needs of the economy so that we increase labour absorption,” said National Planning Commission member, Mary Metcalfe.
According to student formations, these institutions have been neglected for a long time and need to be equipped with proper infrastructure in order to function well.
