TVET Colleges hold the key to tackling youth unemployment
With 20.8 million young people unemployed, SA’s future depends on unlocking vocational education. Oxford University Press SA’s Yondela Mbonyana Mlonzi says TVET colleges could be the game changer… If barriers are removed.
South Africa is home to a powerful, largely untapped resource… Its youth. Of the country’s 63.1 million people, a staggering 20.8 million are between the ages of 15 and 34.
Despite this demographic advantage, youth unemployment remains alarmingly high. One of the key contributors? A lack of vocational skills.
Read more: Two PE TVET apprentices shine at WorldSkills national competition
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, which focus on providing practical and industry-aligned skills, are increasingly recognised as essential in closing this gap. However, systemic hurdles continue to hold them back.
Oxford University Press SA vocational publisher Yondela Mbonyana Mlonzi said: “We have the people, but they lack the training. TVET colleges were designed to address this exact issue, but too many barriers still stand in their way.”
She added that South Africa boasts 50 public TVET colleges operating across more than 260 campuses. “Yet, according to a 2021 study published in the South African Journal of Higher Education, poor throughput and certification rates are preventing these institutions from making the impact they were designed for.
“There are several reasons for this. From admissions bottlenecks and insufficient funding, to a lingering misconception that TVET colleges are a ‘lesser’ choice than universities.
“Out of 615 429 matriculants who passed in 2023, only 166 634 (just over 27%) were admitted to TVET colleges. The rest had to compete for limited spaces with a larger applicant pool of 482 244 students.”
Mlonzi said the government acknowledged the problem, with former Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande, in January 2024, announcing a target of reaching 2.5 million enrolments in the TVET sector by 2030. A goal that requires a significant investment in infrastructure, staffing, and support systems.
Financial support remains one of the most pressing challenges. While the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) and other bodies, like Setas, provide critical assistance, they are often stretched too thin.
“Many TVET students come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Mlonzi said. “They need more than just tuition funding. They need support for transport, accommodation, and daily living. Even when funding is available, delays and administrative hurdles create additional stress and impact academic performance.”
A 2023 higher health study revealed that 63% of university students relying on Nsfas reported high levels of financial stress, which also applies to TVET students, many of whom face even tougher conditions.
Recognising the vital role that TVETs can play, Oxford University Press SA is actively supporting the sector, with tailored learning materials, lecturer training, and student empowerment initiatives.
“We provide textbooks and materials for NATED business and engineering studies,” said Mlonzi, “as well as the NCV curriculum, in areas like coding, robotics, and mathematics.”
Oxford University Press SA also delivers subject-specific workshops for lecturers, covering topics such as computer practice N4–N6, mathematics N4–N6, computerised financial systems N5 & N6, coding and robotics L2 & L3, and entrepreneurship and business management (EBM) N4–N6.
“We’ve also developed a teaching through technology course,” Mlonzi added, “to help lecturers effectively integrate digital tools into their lessons.”
In partnership with Allan Gray Makers, Oxford University Press SA supports student entrepreneurship by providing pitch readiness training for the Inter-College Entrepreneurship Competition, another way of equipping TVET learners with real-world skills.
Mlonzi said, unlocking South Africa’s youth potential depends on transforming the TVET system into a vibrant, respected engine for skills development. “It will take a collective effort from government funding and private sector support to change public perceptions, but if we get it right, we’ll not only reduce unemployment; we’ll build a skilled, resilient workforce for the future.”
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