TVET Colleges Falling Short of Artisan Production Targets, Says Higher Education Department

South Africa news: TVET Colleges Falling Short of Artisan Production Targets, Says Higher Education Department. Image for illustration purposes only, generated with AI.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has revealed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are not meeting their annual targets for producing qualified artisans, a key component of the country’s skills development strategy.

Speaking during an interview on TVET Awareness Month, Deputy Director-General for TVET, Sam Zungu, acknowledged that while the national goal is to produce 30,000 artisans per year by 2030, the current output sits at just over 20,000 annually.

Awareness Campaigns Aim to Shift Perceptions

August marks TVET Awareness Month, an initiative running for over a decade to promote vocational education as a viable alternative to university. Zungu emphasized the need to change societal attitudes that prioritize university degrees over technical skills.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean everyone must go to university,” Zungu said. “We need more young people in TVET colleges because these are the skills our economy demands.”

Currently, South Africa has 1.2 million students in universities compared to only 600,000 in TVET colleges—a disparity the department hopes to address through advocacy targeting students, parents, and communities.

Challenges: Infrastructure, Industry Partnerships, and Outdated Systems

Zungu highlighted several obstacles hindering progress:

• Insufficient infrastructure and outdated training equipment in TVET colleges.

• Lack of industry partnerships, particularly with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to provide apprenticeships.

• Lecturer shortages, with many instructors lacking formal teaching qualifications despite their technical expertise.

• Legacy programs (N1-N6) being phased out in favor of more practical, industry-aligned occupational qualifications.

Call for Greater Private Sector Involvement

Zungu urged more businesses—especially SMEs—to participate in skills development by taking on apprentices. He noted that many companies paying skills development levies do not actively train artisans, missing a critical opportunity to address unemployment.

“If we ignore vocational training, many young people will remain jobless,” he warned. “Every object around us was made by an artisan—we cannot afford to neglect this sector.”

Moving Forward

The department plans to expand digital learning platforms, upgrade college facilities, and strengthen collaborations with industry to meet the 2030 target. However, Zungu stressed that changing perceptions about TVET education remains the biggest hurdle.

“We need parents, communities, and businesses to see the value in these skills,” he said. “Artisans don’t just fill jobs—they build economies.”

As South Africa grapples with high youth unemployment, the push for a stronger TVET sector could be vital in bridging the skills gap and fostering entrepreneurship among graduates.

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