South Africa has a skills development problem - what about the TVET solution?
A lack of vocational training hampers skills development, something TVETs do address, but several factors are hindering their success
A lack of vocational training hampers skills development, something TVETs do address, but several factors are hindering their success
South Africa is blessed with a relatively young population - according to Stats SA, around 20.8 million of the 63.1 million population are between the ages of 15 and 34. This means we have a potential workforce that countries with ageing populations like Japan or Italy can only dream of. That we desperately need this workforce to grow the economy is undisputed. What is holding us back? One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of skills development. We have the people, but they lack the training.
Despite the large number of colleges and campuses, a 2021 study conducted at Nelson Mandela University, published in the South African Journal of Higher Education, found that ‘the extremely low throughput and certification rates at these institutions prevent colleges from achieving this goal (addressing skills shortages and unemployment)’.
“There are several reasons for this, ranging from admissions bottlenecks, insufficient funding, a misconception that TVET colleges are the lesser option (versus universities), and a lack of understanding that graduates from TVETs can enter the job market much sooner with their practical skills, or even become entrepreneurs”, believes Yondela Mlonzi, Publisher: Vocational Publishing Services at Oxford University Press South Africa.
READ MORE: https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/south-africa-has-a-skills-development-problem-what-about-the-tvet-solution-060005a
South Africa is blessed with a relatively young population - according to Stats SA, around 20.8 million of the 63.1 million population are between the ages of 15 and 34. This means we have a potential workforce that countries with ageing populations like Japan or Italy can only dream of. That we desperately need this workforce to grow the economy is undisputed. What is holding us back? One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of skills development. We have the people, but they lack the training.
The role of TVET
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has long been touted as instrumental in addressing our labour market skills shortages and the high youth unemployment rate. At present, there are 50 public TVET colleges with more than 260 campuses across South Africa.Despite the large number of colleges and campuses, a 2021 study conducted at Nelson Mandela University, published in the South African Journal of Higher Education, found that ‘the extremely low throughput and certification rates at these institutions prevent colleges from achieving this goal (addressing skills shortages and unemployment)’.
“There are several reasons for this, ranging from admissions bottlenecks, insufficient funding, a misconception that TVET colleges are the lesser option (versus universities), and a lack of understanding that graduates from TVETs can enter the job market much sooner with their practical skills, or even become entrepreneurs”, believes Yondela Mlonzi, Publisher: Vocational Publishing Services at Oxford University Press South Africa.
The admissions bottleneck
A quick look at the data from 2024 shows that of the 615,429 matriculants that passed last year, 166,634 students, or 27.08% of the total complement, were successfully admitted to a TVET college.READ MORE: https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/south-africa-has-a-skills-development-problem-what-about-the-tvet-solution-060005a
