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

The Deputy Minister was speaking through an oversight visit for the post-school education and instruction (PSET) establishments within the Western Cape this week.

Gondwe explained the TVET colleges as essential for job creation and youth skills development while in the country.

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

Gondwe's visits aimed at evaluating the point out of readiness of larger education institutions across the nation, ahead in the 2025 educational year.

Throughout the visit at West Coast College, she inspired learners to take satisfaction in attaining artisan abilities as they provide terrific entrepreneurship possibilities.

"I'm 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], and coding," Gondwe said.

At the second part of the visit, students at CPUT expressed worries about college student residences along with other facilities. The Deputy Minister directed website the institution to work with the Student Representative Council (SRC), to speedily solve the determined problems.

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 the Central University of Technology (CUT), at the website Welkom letaba tvet college campus.

In the course of the visits, the Deputy Minister has become accompanied by essential senior officials 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 issue of funding and administrative difficulties confronted through the NSFAS get more info was during the spotlight over the Free State leg on 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 need allowances to eat and to buy hygiene products. This is important for their sense of wellbeing and dignity," 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 website 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