South Africa's higher education landscape is undergoing a pivotal shift as Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela advocates for a robust expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Speaking at the National Education Summit, Manamela highlighted the urgent need to train job creators rather than just job seekers, addressing the plight of 3.4 million young South Africans not in employment, education, or training. This call comes amid soaring youth unemployment rates exceeding 60% for those aged 15-24, underscoring TVET's role as a vital bridge to economic participation in the post-school education and training sector.
TVET colleges, distinct from universities, focus on practical, occupationally directed qualifications like the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) and NATED programmes. These institutions equip students with hands-on skills in fields such as engineering, artisan trades, business studies, and hospitality, preparing them directly for the labour market or entrepreneurship. With current enrolment hovering around 527,000 students across 50 public TVET colleges, the sector represents a strategic lever for industrialisation and inclusive growth.
Understanding the Youth Employment Crisis Driving TVET Reforms
The expanded unemployment rate in South Africa stands at over 42%, with youth bearing the brunt. Statistics reveal that only about 40% of young people aged 15-34 are economically active, leaving millions as Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs). Manamela described this not merely as an unemployment crisis but a 'crisis of pathways,' where education fails to guide learners from school to sustainable livelihoods.
Early childhood development sets the stage, with only 42% of children developmentally on track by age five according to the Thrive by Five index. This early inequality perpetuates through the system, resulting in high dropout rates and mismatched skills. TVET colleges aim to intercept this by offering accessible entry points for Grade 12 passers unable to secure university spots—235,000 university places versus over 656,000 matric passes in recent years—and NEET youth seeking second chances.
Minister Manamela's Vision: From Job Seekers to Job Creators
Central to Manamela's message is repositioning TVET to produce entrepreneurs. 'We must build a system that has not only prepared job seekers, but produces job creators,' he stated. This involves embedding entrepreneurship training within vocational programmes, providing access to funding, markets, and mentorship. Initiatives like the CHIETA's R12 million Artisan Entrepreneurship Fund exemplify this, targeting artisans capable of launching enterprises in manufacturing and services.
The economy demands 30,000 artisans annually—electricians, millwrights, welders, and plumbers—but produces only 20,000. TVET reforms prioritize closing this gap through targeted training, with cumulative goals of 122,000 artisans by 2030 under the DHET Strategic Plan 2025-2030.
The Dual Training Model: Blending Classroom and Workplace Learning
A flagship reform is the dual training model, directed in the 2026 State of the Nation Address. This integrates theoretical classroom instruction at TVET colleges with structured workplace experience, creating a seamless pathway from enrolment to employment. Step-by-step, students spend time in modern workshops for practical skills, then rotate to industry partners for real-world application under mentorship.
Unlike traditional models separating theory and practice, the dual system ensures occupational competence. Pilots in Centres of Specialisation—expanding from 20 to 34—demonstrate readiness, with fast-tracked accreditation and placements in priority trades. By 2029/30, targets include placing 25,000 TVET graduates annually in workplaces and 500,000 learners in internships or learnerships cumulatively.
Photo by Matias Misael on Unsplash
Expansion Strategies and Enrolment Targets
The DHET Revised Strategic Plan 2025-2030 outlines ambitious growth: TVET enrolments from 518,584 in 2023 to 600,000 annually by 2029/30, though far short of the 2.5 million White Paper target due to a R356 billion funding gap. For 2026, over 527,000 places are available, with NSFAS funding 300,000 TVET students fee-free, covering tuition, registration, and allowances.
Infrastructure receives R51.2 billion, including new campuses like Bhambanana Phase 2 and digital upgrades via the National Open Learning System (NOLS). Prevocational Learning Programmes bridge non-NSC holders, while Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Desks target green jobs in renewables and hydrogen.
- Increase artisan production to 30,000 per year.
- Register 355,000 in skills programmes cumulatively.
- Produce 7,000 JET-relevant graduates annually.
Persistent Challenges in TVET Delivery
Despite progress, hurdles remain. Throughput rates lag at around 50% for NSFAS-funded students, with NCV completion at 29% and dropouts at 19%. Fragmentation—accreditation delays, lecturer skill gaps, equipment shortages, and weak industry ties—undermines efficacy. Rural colleges face acute infrastructure deficits, exacerbating access for women and disabled youth.
Manamela notes uneven readiness but insists on immediate rollout, with 90-day action plans for placements and funding alignment. Governance reforms and lecturer continuous professional development (CPD) are critical, alongside tracer studies to track employment outcomes.
Addressing these requires coordinated SETA-industry partnerships and sustainable NSFAS reforms for the 'missing middle.'
Spotlighting Success Stories and Case Studies
Gert Sibande TVET College exemplifies momentum. Recently launched with Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Manamela, its 4IR Lab and Millwright Centre of Specialisation—supported by Sasol Foundation—equips students for advanced manufacturing. This facility trains in robotics, AI, and mechatronics, fostering artisan-entrepreneurs.
Another beacon is TotalEnergies' partnership with False Bay TVET College, graduating 30 West Coast fisher cooperatives in entrepreneurship. Participants mastered compliance, financials, and business planning, launching sustainable enterprises. CATHSSETA-McDonald's collaboration absorbed 5,000 youth, while SETA investments total R5.5 billion in infrastructure.
These cases prove TVET's potential when aligned with industry, boosting placement rates and local economies.
Government Initiatives Bolstering TVET Growth
NSFAS expansion ensures fee-free access, while QCTO accredits occupational qualifications. Digital transformation digitises curricula, with hybrid learning absorbing post-matric demand. The National Artisan Moderating Body (NAMB) streamlines trade tests, and Presidential programmes fund 40,000 NEETs annually.
SETA reforms restore 40% employer grants, prioritizing high-impact outcomes over reports. For more on strategic directions, see the DHET Revised Strategic Plan 2025-2030.
Industry Partnerships and Public-Private Models
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) via PIC transform infrastructure, with industry committing placements. Examples include CHIETA's artisan fund and ETDP SETA's collaborations. These ensure curricula reflect labour needs, like OHD lists for renewables and data science.
Manamela urges business to deepen ties, warning that without placements, dual systems falter. Success metrics shift to employment evidence, not presentations.
Future Outlook: Measuring Success by Employment Impact
By 2030, TVET aims for 2.5 million enrolments, though fiscal realities temper to 600,000. Emphasis on outcomes—placement rates, artisan numbers, entrepreneurship launches—will define progress. Equity targets: 50% women, 30% youth, 7% disabled in key programmes.
Stakeholders must integrate efforts, from ECD to workplaces. For youth, TVET offers actionable pathways: apply via college portals, explore NSFAS, pursue dual trades. As Manamela asks, 'What does freedom mean for the young person who has no pathway?' Expansion answers with dignity through skills.
Explore related resources in the DHET's SONA debate speech and readiness statement.
