5th February 2025
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has inspired learners to take into account the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges for a precious and practical substitute for advancing their careers.

The Deputy Minister was talking throughout an oversight visit into the post-school education and coaching (PSET) establishments in the Western Cape this week.

Gondwe described the TVET colleges as vital for job creation and youth skills development while in the place.

The Deputy Minister visited the West Coast College Vredenburg Campus, and also the Cape Peninsula {University of Technological know-how (CPUT) Bellville Campus in Cape Town.

Gondwe's visits aimed toward examining the condition of readiness of bigger education institutions across the country, forward with the 2025 academic year.

In the visit at West Coast College, she encouraged learners to acquire satisfaction in buying artisan abilities as they provide great entrepreneurship opportunities.

"I am very encouraged by what I'm seeing at TVET colleges, I believe they are the future of this country. TVETs are producing artisans with much needed skills [and] also offer opportunities for learners to acquire future skills, such as robotics, AI [Artificial intelligence], read more and coding," Gondwe said.

At the second part of the visit, students at CPUT expressed fears about student residences and other facilities. The Deputy Minister directed the institution to operate with the Student Representative Council (SRC), to speedily solve the recognized concerns.

The Deputy Minister’s visit to the Western Cape, follows her recent visit to higher education institutions in the Free State where she visited Goldfields TVET College and read more the Central University of Technology (CUT), at the Welkom campus.

Over the visits, the Deputy Minister continues to be accompanied by critical senior officers from Higher Education and Training, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The Deputy Minister’s dedicated Help Desk has also formed part of the delegation, assisting with all higher education related queries on each visit.

The difficulty of thekwini tvet college funding and administrative challenges faced from the NSFAS was during the spotlight through the Free State leg in the visits.

"NSFAS needs to get its act together, in order to ensure that student allowances are paid on time with no delays. Delays cause serious challenges for learners; learners more info need allowances to eat and to buy hygiene products. This is important for their sense of wellbeing and dignity," here Gondwe said.

Gondwe embarked on the state of readiness visits following a plan of action, announced by Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane at the special meeting of the Post Education and Training sector held in January 2025, to establish the state of readiness for the 2025 academic year.

The Deputy Minister's oversight is expected to continue in other provinces, with North West higher education institutions being the next on the list.
– SAnews.gov.za