THE FUTURE IS TVET

By: Deeanne Daniels

Acommon misconception among many students looking to further their education is that TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges do not offer the same value compared to other educational institutions, which is not the case. TVET colleges are excellent places to further students' education and develop crucial occupational or vocational skills in various fields, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and many other roles in many sectors.

TVET colleges offer a wide range of benefits. The first and most notable one would be increased job opportunities since many TVET colleges partner with businesses to provide students with practical experience during their studies, which can be used on a CV, an advantage when applying to the workforce for the first time.

Many students opt for TVET colleges because they are more affordable than other tertiary institutions and more accessible if the college offers online or distance learning opportunities. Another attractive benefit of TVET colleges is the handson experience most colleges offer students. In addition to gaining a qualification, TVET courses provide the opportunity to develop a variety of soft skills, which make students more marketable when it comes to finding a job.

Spotlight on College of Cape Town College of Cape Town is one of the 50 TVET colleges in South Africa. It offers a wide range of vocational education and training programmes across eight campuses, including automotive motor mechanics, graphic design, business studies, education and information technology. The college aims to provide intermediate to higher-level skills to support economic development and growth.

The College of Cape Town strives to create an environment that promotes learning and is easily accessible. As an alternative to General Education and Training, the courses offered by the College of Cape Town are said to lead to recognised, accredited qualifications in high demand by industry and commerce.

It has a few notable achievements for both the institution and their students. The Athlone campus was awarded the Centre of Specialisation (CoS) for Automotive Motor Mechanics in 2018 and is currently one of two countries running the programme. Earlier this year, Pinelands campus student Ridhaa Fisher represented South Africa at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Nuremberg, Germany, in the 'Refrigeration and Air Conditioning' category. Ridhaa was the only student among eight other students from the college who went from the provincial team to nationals to represent South Africa.

Possible careers after studying at one of the College of Cape Town campuses include building, mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, automotive mechanics, teachers, business managers, transport and logistics, computer science, web design and many more. Programmes offered by the College of Cape Town, like many TVET colleges, encourage self-learning, educate students on different career paths and promote independence and hands-on experience for future employment.