Skills Training and Development - TVETs

Essential For Curriculum Shifts

By Raine St.Claire

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has emphasised the imperative of increased industry participation in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college curriculum review process.

According to the Minister, enhancing responsiveness to industry needs requires more substantial industry involvement in the TVET curriculum review process. To successfully implement these changes, he also stressed the necessity of adapting management strategies to address current and future TVET curriculum challenges. Additionally, leadership programmes within the TVET sector are essential to drive the necessary curriculum changes.

Key Highlights:

• Trade test centres have successfully tested over 600 apprentices, with over 500 qualifying as artisans. Entrepreneurial training is currently in 26 colleges through entrepreneurship hubs.

• The department has provided 14 954 TVET placement opportunities valued at R726-million. It is committed to achieving a target of 20 000 TVET graduate placements in work positions, aligning with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment.

• The establishment of seven Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) centres aims to enhance digital skills among students and staff. Partnerships with organisations like HUAWEI, Cisco, GIZ (The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH), IYF (International Youth Foundation), and others contribute to the digital skilling mission.

• Vhembe TVET College in Limpopo has reported producing three millionaires through the development initiative.

• The National Development Plan commits to growing technical and vocational training, focusing on its size, shape, differentiation, articulation, efficiency, and functional effectiveness.

• SETAs have injected R138.6million for workplace training, paid directly to employers to produce more artisans. The goal is to increase the annual production of qualified artisans from the current average of 20 000 to meet the NDP target of 30 000 by 2030.

• Centres of Specialisation have expanded to thirty-four (34) at twenty (20) TVET Colleges, enhancing workplacelinked training for artisans. An additional investment of R68-million in sixteen (16) colleges has resulted in thirtythree (33) Trade Test Centres, testing over 600 apprentices, with over 500 qualifying as artisans. Entrepreneurial training is underway in twenty-six (26) colleges through Entrepreneurship Hubs.

Unlocking Digital Skills

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Siemens South Africa, an industrial manufacturing company, have formed a partnership to equip South African students with digital skills. The organisations signed a memorandum of understanding to offer technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges critical technical and digital skills, enhancing students’ employability and job profile quality.

Siemens, with existing collaborations with TVET colleges in South Africa, invites additional colleges to join the programme. The initiative covers a range of digital skills, including data science, advanced IT skills in artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Siemens will also contribute to the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in South Africa (C4IR-SA), hosted at the CSIR, aiming to advance societal benefits through publicprivate partnerships and governance frameworks for 4IR technologies.

Siemens has developed a comprehensive 4IR roadmap for South Africa, aligned with the World Economic Forum’s network, fostering digitalisation opportunities, Industry 4.0 solutions, upskilling the workforce, and creating high-quality jobs.

Centre Of Vocational Excellence In Water

The Stellenbosch University Water Institute has spearheaded the establishment of the first regional Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Water, marking a milestone as the initial venture of the Platform of Vocational Excellence in Water outside the European Union.

Funded by the European Union, the Platform of Vocational Excellence in Water focuses on enhancing the skills of professionals in the water sector. While four CoVEs in Water already operate in The Netherlands, Malta, the Czech Republic, and Latvia, this South African initiative expands its global presence.

The initiative aligns with the Department of Higher Education and Training’s goal to foster collaborations between universities, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, the private sector, and government.

The aim is to connect TVET institutions with the latest research outcomes, enhancing the relevance of training to the labour market and improving graduates’ employment prospects. Stellenbosch University Water Institute (SUWI) will coordinate the regional project over the next three years, leveraging its track record with TVET institutions. European partners will contribute their knowledge and experience in establishing a CoVE in Water. The regional CoVE in Water intends to serve as a bridge between South Africa’s TVET colleges and the industry.

Empowering Job-Seeking Young Adults With Coding Skills

WeThinkCode_ (WTC) and Ekurhuleni West TVET College (EWC) have partnered to launch a programme training youth without coding experience to become skilled software developers.

The pilot, at EWC Boksburg TVET campus, will have two cohorts of 50 students each, expanding WeThinkCode_’s annual intake from 450. The success could establish a pipeline of thousands of technical skills annually, addressing South Africa’s severe technical skills shortage amid high unemployment. WeThinkCode_ provides opportunities for unemployed youth to enter the tech industry, aiming to bridge the gap between potential youth and the demand for software developers.

The partnership leverages TVETs’ national footprint to deliver digital skills, contributing to lowering youth unemployment. Manie Stoltz, Business Unit and Partnerships Manager at Ekurhuleni West College, sees the collaboration as an investment in shaping South Africa’s digital future. The pilot includes partnerships with GCRA, Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation, and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for systemic change in South Africa’s educational system.

Zanele Twala, CEO of the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation, stresses the importance of partnerships for significant investments. Ona Meyer, Programme Manager of Jobs and Livelihoods at the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, sees the pilot aligning with the foundation’s goals for new careers and job opportunities. The programme demonstrates a partnership model for TVET-enrolled youth to access a high-quality, industry-relevant curriculum and support into ICT jobs, potentially expanding to multiple TVET campuses.