TVET colleges offer skills-based courses that are sure to shoot students straight into their chosen career fields but the stigma attached to TVETs often overshadow them as an option.
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As the academic year begins, thousands of students flock to universities, eager to pursue traditional careers like medicine, engineering, and law, to name just a few.
However, this trend has led to an influx of students seeking places at universities, often overlooking alternative education options such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
There are over 40 registered TVET colleges spread across all nine provinces, offering a range of skills-based courses that can empower students to enter various career fields.
Despite this, they are often overlooked by those fixated on university degrees due to the stigma associated with them.
These colleges are commonly perceived as being only for individuals who did not achieve good grades, those who are only suited to practical work, or as less prestigious than universities.
With a wide range of courses in fields such as engineering, information technology, business studies, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism, TVET colleges provide students with practical skills and hands-on experience. This training prepares students for success in their chosen careers while also offering better job prospects and higher earning potential.
A former Sedibeng TVET College student who asked to remain anonymous, studied a course in fitting and turning, equipped herself with skills to fit, assemble, and repair various types of machinery.
She shares that she did not let misconceptions about TVET colleges discourage her, as her focus was on learning and completing her studies.
When asked how her experience at Sedibeng TVET College prepared her for the workplace, she shared that the practical work and exposure to real-world expectations trained her to think on her feet and work with available resources in mechanical situations.
She now works as a mechanical fitter and encourages prospective learners to consider TVET colleges as a viable option.
Despite these benefits, TVET colleges are still stigmatized and viewed by many as a “plan B” or a lesser alternative to university, if they are considered at all. This misconception is far from the truth, but there is insufficient information available to dispel the stigma.
According to the International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (IJRBS) a study was conducted using high school and TVET college students and found several misconceptions and expectations about TVETs.
The journal also provides insights into the perspectives of South African high school learners and how TVET colleges need to market themselves as viable study options.
The video below, created by TikTok user Mooshtaffa, explores the issue of TVET colleges in South Africa being overlooked. It highlights the need for better representation and provides statistics on the gender splits in TVET schools.
In a video, TikTok user Mooshtaffa, explores the issue of TVET colleges in South Africa being overlooked. It highlights the need for better representation and provides statistics on the gender splits in TVET schools.
The Department of Higher Education and Training should ensure that information about TVET colleges is widely shared and presented in a way that appeals to prospective students. This would help them recognise the value of TVET colleges from an early stage.
By doing so, students can break free from the traditional university path, explore alternative career opportunities, challenge the stigma surrounding TVET colleges, and acknowledge the significant opportunities these institutions provide.
IOL
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