TALETSO TVET COLLEGE “where eagles dare”

Taletso TVET College is in touch with its reality as an institution that is surrounded by mainly rural areas and uses this as inspiration and an advantage. The College is inviting to everyone who seeks an education no matter your background.

While some may see the College’s geographical location as a disadvantage, the location has in contrast become one of the institutions strong points.

Taletso TVET College has bridged the gap between education and accessibility for Students in the nearby rural areas by giving them a platform to learn, further their studies and reach opportunities influenced by their academics and extra mural activities in the institution.

The College Offers theoretical and practical based education in Engineering studies, Business related courses, Farming, Information Technology, Tourism and Hospitality, where students learn not only what to do, but how to do it in practise.

Global Outlook

Taletso TVET college which is located in the north-western corner of South Africa is the product of a merger between Lehurutshe College of Education, Mafikeng College and Lichtenburg College. The three campuses are situated in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality of the North West Province and are 80+- km from each other.

The college stays in touch with international standards and opportunities for Artisans training and development by actively promoting participation of its students in the WorldSkills Competition.

The WorldSkills Competition aims to bring excitement to the artisanal industry in South Africa by exposing our communities to engineering on a bigger scale, to encourage more young people from high schools, tertiary institutions such as TVETS, and unemployed youth to see artisanal careers as a career of choice to help fight the skills shortage in South Africa.

Developing female leaders for tomorrow, today

“It should not shock people anymore that a woman is aiming or is in a position of leadership, we are well capacitated and ready to lead,” says Mahikeng Campus Chairperson, Ms Bokamoso Letshoo. She adds,” The mission is not complete for as long as people still feel amazed about the concept of a female leader.”

Letshoo says her key role is to ensure that the SRC fulfils their mandate, coordinate the SRC's relationship with its various stakeholders according to their portfolios, to lead with respect, and to ensure that the needs of students are prioritized.

She adds, “I am inspired by women like North-West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi. Her journey in leadership is one that is very familiar to me, from her days at high school, she is enthusiastic, has positive energy, and an excellent vision for the future.”

The 27-year-old from Itsoseng who enrolled at Taletso TVET College for her NCV studying Management Assistant in 2020, says besides always having an interest in politics and the status quo of the country, she realised the possibilities of making a change when she joined a student political affiliation shortly after enrolling.

Her love and fire for student affairs drove her to run for SRC Chairperson. She describes her journey as one that challenged her in ways that she did not anticipate.

She quips, “Even though I had an idea of what it would be like to run for Chairperson, no one really told me that it would also be emotionally, physically and mentally taxing. However, my passion for helping students and being able to make a difference in their lives kept me going. At some point I was a student who needed assistance from the SRC too. I know how lifechanging it is to have just one person willing to listen and help you with your issues.”

“Being a Leader means you have a team. This ship is not mine alone, and I appreciate the support I have received from my fellow SRC Members from Mahikeng Campus and our other 2 campuses. We regularly consult each other to find better ways of Governance. It is important to remain level headed and objective as a leader by always remembering why I chose this path and ensuring I don't give up. First you have to care about the wellbeing of your colleagues and fellow students.

We come across different characters all the time, which is why is it important to remain level-headed all the time.”

The determined, dedicated and disciplined Chairperson of Mahikeng Campus concludes: “I hope my stint as leader brings growth to the Campus and College, but most importantly makes a positive change in students’ lives.”

Preparing students for the 4IR and AI

In line with global trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) that is driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in computer technology, Taletso TVET College unveiled its cutting-edge Tech-Savvy Lab and Classroom at the Mahikeng Campus, ushering in a new era of learning. Students now have the privilege of immersing themselves in a fully digitized environment.

The lab was made feasible through a partnership with FASSET and IT MASTER who sponsored the hightech laboratory and classroom.

The unveiling of the futuristic Tech-Savvy Lab and Classroom at Mahikeng Campus demonstrates the College's commitment to providing world-class education, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

With this transformative leap, the institution has solidified its position as a beacon of progressive learning and innovation, in a rural setting.

Academically prepared and work ready!

Taletso TVET College continues to place its students in different work fields to acquire much-needed experience in the work environment.

Work Based Exposure (WBE) is a project initiated by DHET to expose all NCV Students in the exit level across all programmes to a real work environment. The Taletso WBE team has already managed to place a total number of 83 students and four Mentors.

The students in the field of Electrical and Civil Engineering, Engineering & Related Design (ERD), Hospitality and Management were placed with the following partners and host employers: Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Lewatle Guesthouse Protea Hotel, Corner Life Café, Beehive Catering, Taletso TVET College Mafikeng Campus, Mafikeng Re-engineering.

Each student is appointed a mentor to help guide them on how the day-to-day operations of the workplace are carried out. >

The Academic Support Unit is continuously in communication with appointed mentors allocated to the students at the beginning of the placement to ensure progressive and successful learning.

From the classroom to the workplace

What makes TVET colleges imperative for a developing economy such as South Africa is that they prepare school leavers with ready-to-work skills so that they can make an impact on the workplace immediately. This is the pillar of TVET education, and Taletso is cognisant and committed to this objective.

One such beneficiary is Ms Koketso Onalenna Kamanga, a 24 year-old from Montshioa in Mafikeng.

In sharing her experience she says, “I attended Boitseanape Technical Secondary School, where I was exposed to Engineering Trades. I then did my N1 - N6 with Taletso TVET College. The road was not an easy one because there were some obstacles along the way, but my passion and determination is what kept me going until I completed my course.”

“Engineering generally has in the past been a male-dominated field, it does get scary and overwhelming at times as we come across people in the field who see us as females first, before they see and acknowledge us as engineers who are capable.”

“I was placed in Taletso’s Bricklaying Apprenticeship. It is a 3-year program where we do in-service training in the trade,” she continues. “After 36 months we will go for trade tests which will qualify us to be Artisans.”

Kamanga laments that the work environment has it's up and downs. The downs mostly being your capability being questioned because of your gender. Also, having to get used to the weight of the job, which definitely improves over time. The ups being the knowledge, skill and experience one attains along the journey.

She explains: “When I got into the field, I came with the mentality that I will not restrict myself in to learning new things. I have basically played a couple of roles on varying projects.

I have done bricklaying, duties of a Clerk of Works, a Supervisor, a Store Keeper, I have worked in the Safety Office, and other tasks that you would find being done in a construction project on site. The experience has been amazing sinceI started being in the field and doing the actual work, and hearing of my progress from the people who have been my mentors motivates me to push and grow myself and my knowledge in the field.”

“Even though I’m passionate about Civil Engineering, I don't want to focus on one type of engineering at the moment, I want to know and have qualifications of other courses in the fields. My goal is to work for more companies and work in more projects to acquire different skills that will enable me to one day run my own company and share my knowledge and skills with those who will be coming up after me. Engineering is a challenging but exciting field, I wouldn't trade what I am doing for anything else,” Kamanga concludes.

True to its vision

Taletso TVET College’s vision is to be a dynamic institution committed to growing skilled people for a better future. Its mission is to strive to be an institution of excellence that provides high-quality, demand-led programmes to support skills development in South Africa.

With its intake of students from the nearby rural surroundings, neighbouring Botswana and other areas, the college believes it will achieve this with the support of its partners and commitment of its students and staff. 

Central Office:

Tel: +27 (0) 18 384 2346/ 50

Fax: +27 (0) 18 384 7511

Email: info@taletsofetcollege.co.za

Website: www.taletso.edu.za

Address: 761-762 Setlogelo Drive, Montshiwa Unit 2, Mahikeng, 2790