OVERVIEW
Education and training The second phase of construction at Sol Plaatje University is underway. SECTOR INSIGHT The Premier’s Bursary Trust will benefit from the sale of state property.
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s an indicator of the high priority placed on education by the Northern Cape provincial administration, the province’s state house is to be sold and the proceeds will accrue to the Premier’s Bursary Trust. A saving of R624 000 on office rental by one of the province’s departments has already been delivered to the fund. Together with other agencies and departments, the Trust delivered 366 bursaries in the 2019/20 financial year. A further 6 418 TVET students in the province were awarded bursaries through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The second phase of the development of the Sol Plaatje University campus has begun and the procurement process has begun for phase three. Architectural competitions were held in the first phase, which resulted in some fine new buildings being erected, including the Sol Plaatje University Library and Student Resources Building which won numerous awards. Sports facilities at SPU South Campus (formerly Hoffe Park) form part of the second phase, as does the refurbishment of a community hall into a multipurpose venue for examinations, events, graduations, indoor sport and the activities of student societies. The Northern Cape National Lotteries Commission is among the funders of the development of the sports fields. Phase two is expected to be completed between 2028 and 2030.
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The first intake of students at the Kimberley campus in 2014 was 124. At the 2019 graduation ceremony, 319 students were congratulated and when classes began for the 2020 academic year, over 700 first-time students enrolled. Approximately 60% of the students are enrolled in teacher training courses. The academic programme is housed in four schools: Education; Humanities; Natural and Applied Sciences; Economic and Management Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in education, science, science in data, ICT, heritage studies, commerce and arts. A diploma in retail business management (three years) and a one-year higher certificate in heritage studies completes the prospectus. The Northern Cape Urban TVET College comprises three campuses in Kimberley: City Campus, Moremogolo Campus and Phatsimang Campus where teacher training is done. At City Campus, students have access to three departments: business studies, engineering studies and a business unit that organises short courses in partnership with various public and private partners. NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2021/22
