Edwin Naidu
TVET college curriculum reform has the potential to contribute in various ways to improve the employability, productivity and success rates of TVET college graduates.
To be successful in bringing these changes, there is a need for change in the management strategies to prepare for current and future TVET curriculum challenges, said Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, at the TVET Curriculum Transformation and Innovation Summit in Midrand last week.
“This summit brings together more substantial industry involvement in the TVET curriculum review process needed to enhance stakeholders in the TVET sector under one roof, aiming to collectively address and elevate the challenges of curriculum transformation and innovation within the sector. The Summit also brings together the key stakeholders to respond to the need to adjust and reposition TVET curricula in light of new technological developments,” said Nzimande.
He said it was critical for more substantial industry involvement in the TVET curriculum review process to enhance responsiveness to industry needs and requirements.
“Furthermore, we need to develop leadership programmes to help leaders within the TVET sector to bring about the necessary curriculum change,” he added.
Another important consideration is the deliberate decision to relook at the funding model of colleges to fulfil their mandate of expanding student numbers, meeting the need for adequate resources, and delivering the quality of teaching needed to develop South Africa’s skills workforce.
“We know by now that our funding model for our institution is skewed towards university or university-centric. This has to change if we are to create the jobs we need in our economy,” he added.
Reflecting on the progress towards shaping a sustainable TVET sector, the Minister said the National Development Plan commits to growing technical and vocational training with specific emphasis on its size and shape, differentiation, articulation, efficiency and functional effectiveness in response to the broader national development challenges.
Currently, South Africa is producing, on average 20 000 qualified artisans annually.
He said the goal remains to ensure that the number increases significantly to meet the National Development Plan (NDP) target to produce 30 000 qualified artisans annually by 2030.
“We have expanded our Centres of Specialisation to thirty-four (34) Centres at twenty-seven (27) TVET Colleges to enhance workplace-linked training of artisans and related occupations, with a further investment of R68 million in sixteen (16) of our Colleges who now have thirty-three (33) Trade Test Centres,” he added.
So far, these trade test centres have tested over 600 apprentices, of which over 500 have qualified as artisans.
Currently, twenty-six (26) of colleges are engaged in entrepreneurial training through Entrepreneurship Hubs with plans to, through the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), introduce innovation hubs in TVET colleges.
To date, the Department has opened up 14 954 TVET placement opportunities to the value of R726 Million and committed to achieving a target of 20,000 placements of TVET graduates as per the President’s commitment at this year’s State of the Nation Address.
“We have subsidised our colleges to meet their developmental goals, and we also provided TVET college students with financial support through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS),” he said.
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