A Beacon Of Hope- Dr Levy Baloyi

Dr Levy Baloyi, the Principalof Mopani TVET College and a beacon of hope for his community

There’s a fundamental need to build a strong foundation for Technical and Vocational Education in South Africa, and this needs to start from the primary school level. The country needs to eradicate the myth that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges are meant for those who aren’t smart enough for a university education, people who can’t think or come up with innovative solutions to the country’s economic problems, this should start with correctly structured career guidance.

These were views expressed by Dr Levy Baloyi who is the Principal of Mopani TVET College in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality within Mopani District, Limpopo Province. An engineering lecturer by profession, with Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Baloyi is responsible for the multitudes of eager students who enrol at Mopani TVET College every year.

The TVET college prides itself by offering a mixture of programmes in both Engineering and Business studies, which directly relates to the South African needs for producing a competent and skilled workforce in various trades. This institution focuses mainly on the Ministerial Programmes (Business and Engineering fields), and occupational programmes that address the dire need for skilled artisans, IT technicians, and professionals in the tourism and hospitality space. An accredited public post-school institution, operating under the auspices of the Department of Higher Education Science and Innovation (DHESI), in line with the Continuing Education Act 16 of 2006, as amended, Mopani TVET College operates within diverse communities and has two campuses, namely, Phalaborwa Campus (in Phalaborwa) and Sir Val Duncan Campus (in Namakgale township).

Dr Baloyi’s journey in the education sector has touched almost everyone who believes in the importance of education. He was once a primary school mathematics and science teacher, moved to high schools within Limpopo Province - teaching the same subjects in different districts - before joining the local NGO (Palabora Foundation) as a Technology part-time facilitator. He also taught the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) at JCI Mining Company.

He then moved to the Technical College as a lecturer in both Electrical and Industrial Electronics in Limpopo Province, promoted to the position of an HOD at Nkangala TVET College’s Witbank Campus before becoming a Campus Manager at Mapulaneng Campus (at Ehlanzeni TVET College). Later on, Dr Baloyi joined the Limpopo Province’s FET College branch as a DCES responsible for electrical engineering programmes before he was appointed as the Deputy Principal Academic Services and then as the Acting Principal at what was then known as Mopani South East FET College. In 2016, he was then officially appointed as Mopani TVET College’s Principal.

Touching on his leadership skills, Dr Baloyi described his leadership style as that of an attuned leader. “I firmly believe in the African concept of Ubuntu. I am because of others. I subscribe to that. I remain ethical and morally grounded, irrespective of the situation and/or the circumstances. I always ensure that I sympathise with people that are in need. But I strongly hate to be undermined or to undermine anyone else,” he says. Having worked with different feeder schools, Dr Baloyi said there’s nothing that makes him more proud and content than witnessing these young people who came to this TVET institution being clueless about the TVET world and thereafter graduating with qualifications that contribute to the economic development of the country.

“As the Principal of a TVET College of this magnitude, I take pride in seeing the youngsters coming from the deep rural areas with different backgrounds, who had no clue about the TVET Programme offerings but converted into qualified and competent artisans, engineers, and professionals in different fields. That makes me happy. Money is something else and, yes, we all need it in order to survive, but witnessing them progressing in their lives gives peace of mind. I feel extremely great to notice that as an institution of higher learning we contributed towards changing their livelihood for the better,” he says.

Touching on what he emphasised as an erroneous perception that many South African people have regarding the TVET Colleges, Dr Baloyi said he’s concerned that this country is missing the key point about the importance of TVET education. “The old and recurring perception that the TVET education system is for those who cannot do well academically and therefore it is meant for those who are good with their hands is completely wrong and unfounded. Look around wherever you are now, the chair that you are sitting on, the table that you are using, almost everything in and around that building, and this building, our roads, any infrastructure, the list is endless, is basically in one way or the other through the hands of either the artisans, technicians and other people who are the product of the TVET Colleges.

“I'll be incorrect to rule out the importance of other soft skills or qualifications, what’s crucial here is that the TVET College sector on its own, given a chance, with functional and mutual partnerships with relevant industry, is the key to the growth of the dwindling economy. The TVET College sector is pivotal in driving the economic growth of this country. Put simply, the entire economy of any country relies on the youngsters who are committed to their education.”

Sharing some of the milestones Mopani TVET College has seen thus far, Dr Baloyi said there was a time wherein this institution was in partnership with the FE Colleges in the United Kingdom (such as Falkirk, Cumbernauld, Clackmannan, Sussex and Plymouth Further Education Colleges). He said the intention was to form a partnership wherein Mopani TVET College shares the best practices with these intended institutions through the exchange programmes.

Coming closer to home, he said one of their proudest moments was when the Higher Education Science and Innovation Minister, Honourable Dr Blade Nzimande, certified Mopani TVET College as one of the 26 TVET Colleges to offer the Central of Specialisation Pilot Programmes.

He added that there are a number of workshops in the engineering campus that have been accredited for training and trade testing some of the trades in both occupational and legacy programmes.

“Remember curriculum keeps on evolving, hence we're gradually phasing out the NATED programmes as we prepare to phase in the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) approved programmes. So we are ready for that,” he said.

Dr Baloyi said that TVET College is slowly becoming responsive to the economic needs in and beyond the Limpopo Province.

Another milestone, he said, was when the TVET Colleges had to be audited by the Auditor-General South Africa, (unlike before when the audits were conducted by the private auditing firms) they weren’t sure where that would lead them to. “Mopani TVET College obtained unqualified audit outcomes for the past three years in succession. I think we're very, very close to getting a clean audit report,” he said. He said this public institution is gradually growing and continuously attracting potential students from as far as Tzaneen, Bushbuckridge, Vhembe and other areas outside Mopani District, with many of them going passing other TVET Colleges to flock to Mopani TVET College. “It might be because of living our slogan which is – excellence is always our choice – or it might be because of the functional partnerships with a number of the industries around here,” he said.

Touching on the most popular courses at the college, Dr Baloyi said, “I can say that, in general, the intake is greater for Engineering and Related design, which is effectively known as ERD. That is where we have got a lot of students looking to enrol.” He said the institution is changing towards the QCTO programmes as well as responding to the Mopani District Development Model, they are exploring possibilities of offering new programmes such as farming, hospitality and tourism, mining and others as per the research report.

On plans they have for the future, Dr Baloyi said they want to be more responsive to the Minister’s clarion call as well as the economic needs. He said Mopani TVET College would like to introduce a new skills centre that offers completely different programmes from what is being offered by the two existing campuses, looking at their nearest area being Hoedspruit and Majeje/Lulekani. “The option that is feasible for now is to seriously look at establishing a skills centre. I'm not going to mention the possible programmes for now.”

On his inspirations and long-list of people he sees as role models, Dr Baloyi shared: “My late father (Mr Makhahlele), who used to say to me, ‘young man, as much as you trust people you are associated with, make sure that you monitor and verify what they do. Otherwise, you will be surprised when you wake up the following day to realise that things are different from what you agreed upon.’ I liked that and grew up like that at a very early age. And then my mother (Mrs Khubani) would always tell me that irrespective of my education or success, elderly people will always be my elders, no matter what my brothers shall remain my brothers, so keep it like that. Also my only sister, from the family of six, and she’d always call us to order. We all listen when she speaks. Mr Malesela Letsoalo who mentored me in many aspects of my career!”

When mentioning a few of the academically inclined leaders he looks up to, Dr Baloyi included the likes of Prof. Hlengani Siweya who is the Executive Dean at the University of Limpopo, Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke who is now the Vice- Chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala from the University of Johannesburg, and Prof Adam Habib the Director of School of Orientation and African Studies University of London.

“I also look up to Dr Reuel Khoza, of course - one of the distinguished thought leaders. That gentleman makes me move. As well as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his friend, the Dalai Lama.”

Dr Reuel Khoza describes an attuned leader as “an insightful person who stresses the importance of human relationships, empathising and identifying with the followers, winning their trust and producing results in line with the needs of the followers.”

In conclusion, Dr Baloyi urged the politicians to leave the education system in the hands of competent academics: “We should not be politicising the education system! It’s my wish and hope that we minimise long meetings and summits as we maximise the production of quality artisans.”

Dr Baloyi truly is an inspired and inspirational Technical and Vocational educator - no wonder the students are flocking to Mopani TVET College. •