HIGH unemployment and limited higher education opportunities have seen young people turning to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in search of a pathway to success.
Faced with rejection from universities, financial struggles, and fierce competition, many students who spoke to The Mercury yesterday said they want to acquire skills that would enable them to secure employment.
Aphile Phetha, an aspiring engineering student, shared the frustration of being rejected by universities and waiting for responses from others.
“I fear time is not on my side, so I decided to try TVET colleges. I did not apply at any college, but I am coming for a walk-in,” he said.
Phetha admitted that he felt pressured to act quickly rather than spend a year at home, despite dissatisfaction with his matric results.
“I think whether or not I get employment after studying depends on the course I will study. If there are no jobs in that field, then I may be unemployed too,” he added.
Similarly, Mluleki Ngcobo, a Grade 11 pupil, has decided to pursue his National Certificate Vocational (NCV) at eThekwini TVET College.
“I want to do Hospitality, but now that I see how many of us want to get in, I am afraid there could not be enough spaces. I can do whatever has space,” he said.
Ngcobo expressed scepticism about universities.
“I trust TVET colleges more because I have seen many university graduates who are at home, unemployed. I will
not even try to get into a university,” he said.
For Sisanda Chiliza, the priority is finding a course that guarantees employment.
“I am tired. I have been to so many colleges trying walk-ins and have not had any luck. I did not apply to any university because I do not believe they will offer me anything that will help me get employment,” she said.
Chiliza emphasised his belief in TVET colleges for skill-based training.
“There are higher chances of getting employment when you study at a TVET college than at universities. I have always wanted to be a plumber, but now I can take anything that will give me a skill,” he said.
Professor Labby Ramrathan, of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), noted the shifting narrative surrounding education preferences.
“The narrative on graduate unemployment, even among high-end careers like doctors and engineers, has led to concerns about the value of university education,” he said.
Ramrathan explained the continuing appeal of TVET colleges, saying, “The narrative on skills development through TVET colleges has been ongoing for more than a decade, but concerns about the quality of TVET education persist.”
He emphasised the need for improved confidence in TVET graduates.
“A concerted effort needs to be made to improve the quality of TVET education so that trust can be built regarding the graduates of such colleges,” he said.
Ramrathan also highlighted issues with TVET curricula, noting that they did not adequately address the immediate and future needs of the country.
He said skills-based courses also required practical learning in the field through apprenticeships.
“Apprenticeships are crucial, but high costs to employers and the labour union demand compromise opportunities for such internships,” he said.
The Department of Higher Education and Training’s KwaZulu-Natal regional office outlined the challenges faced by TVET colleges during enrolment.
Regional Manager Bheki Ngubane said: “The first week that colleges open, enrolment trends are very slow. This is attributed to factors like the release of matric results in mid-January and financial challenges faced by students waiting for their parents’ January salaries.”
Ngubane detailed the proactive measures taken by colleges to manage enrolment.
“In August 2024, aggressive marketing took place. In September, the online portal opened, allowing students to apply. By November, eligible students were invited to complete their registrations,” he said.
However, Ngubane acknowledged the limited capacity of TVET colleges to accommodate students.
“This year, we had approximately 800 000 applications but could only accommodate 65 000 in the first quarter, as per the ministerial allocation,” he said.
“At this stage, there are no vacant spaces at any college,” Ngubane confirmed, adding that some students who qualify may opt for other opportunities.