By Palesa Nguqu
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Mimmy Gondwe has called for a shift in South Africa’s skills strategy, saying the country must move beyond training for existing jobs toward creating new ones through an ‘opportunity-driven’ Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) model.
Gondwe made the remarks during her participation in the Going Global Conference 2025 in London, where she promoted South Africa’s TVET and community colleges as engines for youth employment and innovation.
Invited by the British Council, Gondwe joined international education leaders and met with organisations such as King’s Trust International to strengthen partnerships that can help align the country’s training programmes with global standards and industry needs.
“Our goal is to build strong, sustainable partnerships that will enhance skills development for our youth and create real employment opportunities. International cooperation is key to achieving this vision,” said Gondwe.
Her visit included panel discussions on the future of skills development and the resilience of higher education systems in times of global uncertainty.
Gondwe said the government is intent on repositioning the TVET and community college sectors through international cooperation and innovation. “By leveraging global expertise and resources, South Africa seeks to position its TVET system as a cornerstone of economic growth and social development,” she said.
She said a fundamental rethink was needed of how the country approaches vocational training.
“The distinction between opportunity-driven, supply-driven, and demand-driven TVET models is becoming increasingly important in South Africa’s current skills development discourse, especially as the system transitions toward more agile and inclusive skills ecosystems.
“Historically, much of the TVET college system operated on a supply-driven model. Programs like NATED (N1–N6) and NC(V) were rolled out nationally with little regional differentiation, leading to misalignment with provincial and local economic opportunities.
“The introduction of Centres of Specialisation (CoS) moved towards a demand-driven system which is employer- and industry-led, focusing on current labour market needs. Demand-driven responds to specific skills demands from sectors or employers. However, while demand-driven systems improve relevance, they often prioritise existing industries, sometimes neglecting emerging or informal economic opportunities.
“An opportunity-driven TVET model goes beyond current employer demand to anticipate or create new economic opportunities especially in emerging sectors like the green economy, digital innovation, and community-based enterprises. It is entrepreneurial, forward-looking, and inclusive, seeking to equip learners to generate livelihoods, not just fill existing jobs,” she said.
Among the initiatives under way are the development of industry-relevant curricula, digital learning integration, and international exchange programmes for students and educators, efforts the department says are aimed at modernising training and improving graduate employability.
Gondwe said that long-term reforms should include a future-focused national planning framework.
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