Further Education and Training – (FET) now newly known as Technical and Vocational Education and Training – (TVET) consists of a non-higher programme offering training on occupational and vocational education in colleges alongside the last three years of higher education- (Grades 10-12). (List Of TVET Colleges In Johannesburg)

TVET colleges set up training for careers in a lot of ways, ranging from tourism and hospitality, office administration to primary health, primary agriculture, logistics, computer science and logistics, information technology, and transport.

Courses in the engineering field, such as civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, motor mechanics, and mechanical engineering are also offered by TVET Colleges. Aside from university-grade training, the above-listed courses are part of the plenty of jobs that need several levels and numbers of skills. A lot of them are recommended for individuals who are practically sound and necessarily not for people strong academically.

LIST OF TVET COLLEGES IN JOHANNESBURG

TVET colleges – formerly known as further education and training (FET) colleges – provides both practical and theoretical training in various fields of choice. TVET college is not only for individuals who are yet to complete their Grade 12 – many graduates still seek admission to learn a trade in a college.

TVET COLLEGES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Presently, there are fifty public TVET and numerous private TVET Colleges that are accredited and registered in South Africa operating on not less than 264 campuses and are widely spread across all urban and rural areas. Public and private TVET Colleges on the 16th of August 2006 are executed and operating under the power of the Continuing Education and Training Act and as well residing under the Department of Higher Education and Training -DHET. Below is the list of TVET colleges in South Africa;

  • Boland TVET College
  • Buffalo City TVET College
  • Capricorn TVET College
  • Central Johannesburg TVET College (CJC)
  • Coastal KZN TVET College
  • College of Cape Town
  • Eastcape Midlands TVET College
  • Ehlanzeni TVET College
  • Ekurhuleni East TVET College
  • Ekurhuleni West TVET College (EWC)
  • Elangeni TVET College
  • Esayidi TVET College
  • False Bay FET College
  • Goldfields TVET College
  • Ikhala TVET College
  • Gert Sibande TVET College
  • Ingwe TVET College
  • King Hintsa TVET College
  • TVET College – Flavius Mareka
  • Letaba TVET College
  • Lovedale Public TVET College
  • King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College
  • Majuba TVET College
  • Maluti TVET College
  • Mnambithi TVET College
  • Lephalale TVET College
  • Motheo TVET College
  • Nkangala TVET College
  • Northern Cape Rural TVET College
  • Northern Cape Urban TVET College
  • Northlink TVET College
  • Orbit TVET College
  • Port Elizabeth TVET College
  • Sekhukhune TVET College
  • South Cape TVET College South
  • West Gauteng TVET College
  • Thekwini TVET College
  • Tshwane North TVET College
  • Tshwane South TVET College
  • Umfolozi TVET College
  • Umgungundlovu TVET College (UFET)
  • Vhembe TVET College
  • Vuselela TVET College
  • Waterberg TVET College
  • West Coast TVET College
  • Western College for TVET

MEANING OF TVET

TVET means ‘technical and vocational education and training’. It is an educational term internationally applied to significant post-school institutes of education.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC organization defines TVET as the “Technical and vocational education is used as a comprehensive term referring to those aspects of the educational process involving related science, technologies, in addition to general education, and the acquisition of practical attitudes, skills, understanding, and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life.”

History of the term ‘TVET’ TVET is an international term. as stated earlier, it was established at the 1999 UNESCO International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education in Seoul, South Korea. after the Congress, UNESCO-UNEVOC executed the International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Germany in hand with the objective of assisting the Member States to promote their education systems by the establishment of Vocational post-schools. TVET is now an international educational initiative with the ambition of improving programmes on Vocational training around the world.

TVET’S ROLE IN SOUTH AFRICA

The term TVET was brought into the country, precisely into a South African system of education in 2012 by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Already on track in 2012 is the public FET (Further Education and Training) college in mass, started changing their names to TVET colleges under the ordinance of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The reason for this is because the DHET needed to bring the South African educational system to the same level as international colleagues and standards.

MAJOR REASON FOR A SHIFT OF FET COLLEGES TO TVET COLLEGES

The major reason behind the shift from FET to TVET colleges which was not a tedious one in South Africa was because FET colleges were already indebted in producing the same kind of skills development and vocational training that TVET is appointed the agenda to promote these skills and training. Public colleges, such as Boland TVET college and Capricorn TVET college, are well under the faculty of the department of higher education and training (DHET). The government of the country discovered they thoroughly need more technically skilled mid-class individuals, so they decided to establish and vividly venture into creating special programmes in these institutions that will produce qualified and certified artisans, mining specialists, engineers, motor mechanics, businessmen, and craftsmen.

A spokesman for the Department of Higher Education and Training – DHET, Khaye Nkwanyana says. Newly established private colleges, should not hesitate to be registered as higher education institutions under the Department of Higher Education and Training- DHET and should ensure to offer only courses that are accredited and endorsed by the body. Below is a shortlist of some accredited courses that should be offered in TVET colleges as prescribed by the Department of Higher Education and Training- DHET; Education and training, arts and culture, engineering, building construction, commerce and management, agriculture, business, manufacturing, services, security, and technology.

TVET COLLEGES WORK PATTERN

There are two main sectors for Grade 9 school-leavers

  • The National Certificate (Vocational) – NC(V) 
  • Engineering studies N1-N3.

The NC(V) is It takes a three-year NC(V) programme before an individual can be promoted from level 2 to level 4. A certificate is awarded upon completion of each level and after level 4 completion, the NC(V) is issued as well. It should be noted that the matric certificate is equal in degree to the NC(V) certificate.

The NC(V) that combines both practical and theory, with the three major subjects inclusive – life orientation, math’s literacy, and a language and other four Vocational subjects which are in accordance with the course of study of the individual can be used to seek admission into a university with relevant requirements met.

Engineering studies that promote one from N1 to N3 is a year programme that is specialized in offering subjects like engineering science, mathematics, and engineering drawing including at least a business-related subject. Graduands who seek to go for Engineering studies at a TVET college executes at N4 till one is promoted to N6 while staters who possess Grade 9 executes at N1. Candidates that are interested in becoming an electrician, for instance with N2 completed, practical trade test passed with18 months’ work experience in the field, with all these criteria met, the certificate will surely be issued as a certified electrician. AIt is also advisable to further with N3, so as to be awarded a diploma (N4-N6) in engineering studies and as well become an electrical technician, which gives reliable career ambition. Though Grade 9 can make one be promoted to N1, some companies like to employ apprentices who only have a degree in some cases.

TVET COLLEGES COSTS

There is variation in cost solely depending on the course, mode, and school of study. Chief education specialist of the Department of Higher Education and Training DHET in the Western Cape provincial – Danita Welgemoed says; Public colleges compared to private colleges costs are less expensive as the government has Incorporated about 80 percent reduction in the cost of the college classes. She emphasized further that core courses like Hospitality and Engineering are of high expense contradictory to another course of study, giving Hospitality as an instance, a three-year course that costs about R14 500 per annum and office administration, a three-year course as well costing about R7 700 per annum at public TVET colleges. Quite a wide margin!

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR TVET COLLEGES

Application format varies a lot as colleges’ agendas and calendars differ from one another, but the general logic is to fill up and apply with an ID card attached and provide Grade 9 credentials and residence proof.

Applicants’ age must be 16 years and beyond. An entrance exam comprising of an interesting test is required to be written by an applicant with literacy, numeracy, and personal interview inclusive in most TVET colleges. As cited by Welgemoed, “The tests are conducted to awaken students’ numeracy and literacy levels, as well as their career interests as results of the tests, are used to place students in appropriate programmes and provide them with on-course support if there are gaps in numeracy and literacy,” Individual’s low performance in numeracy and literacy test does not really imply failure, as an improvement on maths and literacy is granted as academic support for the individual to further his or her studies. If probably, the test result is very poor, and the Engineering studies applicant, for instance, failed the maths test, the applicant will be opportune to make a choice of a course different from Engineering studies.

Related: 

CONCLUSION

It is advisable that individuals who wish to enroll in any of the TVET Colleges ask and verify whether the school is accredited and registered to avoid casualties. Secondly, it should be properly inquired whether the course intended to study is accredited and endorsed not.