New TVET college campus for Balfour

The minister of higher education, science and innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, launched another Gert Sibande TVET College campus, this time in Balfour, on Friday May 24.

The campus’s construction cost is estimated at R150m.

It was established to address the growing demand for TVET education, with enrolments increasing from 170 students in 2014 to 571 at the moment.

This campus will offer a diverse range of programmes designed to meet the demands of the evolving economy, from engineering and information technology to healthcare and hospitality.

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This campus is one of 12 new ones built by the department under Nzimande, and forms part of its infrastructure expansion programme in the post-school education and training system.

During the event, Nzimande said:

“This is without doubt one of the best ways in which we can mark 30 years of democracy; by giving the people of the Gert Sibande District a state-of-the-art facility. Not only do we deliver on our promise to build infrastructure, but when we do so, we deliver top-class infrastructure.”

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Nzimande said in other countries, not all young people go to traditional universities in order to develop themselves and make a meaningful contribution in the economy.

“To make this point is not to suggest that university education is unimportant. I am simply saying that the available evidence suggests that as a country, you cannot rely on your university system alone to drive skills development and stimulate meaningful economic growth.”

The launch was attended by some officials of the provincial government and the district and local municipalities, the principals of TVET colleges, chairpersons and CEOs of SETAs, various officials, stakeholders and members of the public.