JOHANNESBURG - Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has cautioned against allowing isolated incidents at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to damage the reputation of the entire sector.
His comments follow recent parliamentary oversight visits to several TVET colleges, where MPs uncovered a number of concerns, including an HR manager who reportedly had no qualifications.
Some lecturers were also found to be teaching without the appropriate qualifications or outside their areas of expertise.
Manamela says while such problems must be addressed, they should not create the perception that all TVET colleges are failing.
“We should not drive a perception on the basis of an incident that happened at one college,” Manamela said.
He pointed out that South Africa has 50 TVET colleges serving about half a million students, many of whom are pursuing occupational and trade qualifications aimed at preparing them for employment and the needs of industry.
“Most of those young people are in trades that will lead them to employment,” he said, adding that many colleges have “very competent lecturers and very competent officials” running their institutions.
Acknowledged that challenges do exist at some colleges, Manamela said these should strengthen efforts to reform and improve the entire TVET system.
Rather than being discouraged by the findings, he said the information gathered through parliamentary oversight should be used to improve the sector.
“We will not be despaired by one or two,” Manamela said.
He described the oversight findings as useful information that could help government strengthen its efforts to put TVET colleges “on the map” and establish them as a viable alternative for young people seeking education, skills and employment opportunities.
For Manamela, the focus should therefore remain on fixing weaknesses where they exist while ensuring that the successes and contribution of the broader TVET system are not overlooked.