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By Akani Nkuna
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe has called for the rebranding of community colleges to attract and serve learners across different age groups.
She said they would in turn uplift those around them and help combat the scourge of unemployment, especially in rural communities.
Gondwe undertook a visit to the Eastern CET College, Phakamile Community Learning Center in Kariega, as part of a Mandela Month outreach programme.
She urged both private and public sector stakeholders to collaborate in tackling challenges facing community colleges across the country.
“Community colleges in general and this college, in particular, face a number of challenges which include the lack of infrastructure and resources, low enrolment rates and poor academic performance,” she said.
“As such, there is a dire need to rebrand community colleges to be fit-for-purpose and make them the colleges of choice for out of school youth and adults.”
Gondwe was accompanied by representatives from seven of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), including the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing SETA, as the main partner to help revamp Phakamile.
She said it was imperative that the physical structures of community colleges were well-taken care so that they were attractive destinations of learning.
Part of the activities undertaken during the visit included cleaning and painting classrooms.
“Even though this centre is housed in an old school building, there is a lot that we as a collective can do to significantly turnaround the situation for the better. By responding to this call to action, we are literally transforming the centre into a more conducive and dignified teaching and learning environment,” Gondwe added.
She also extended the call to the students to be ambassadors of the centre to help ensure that enrolment numbers went up.
“I trust that the work done here today at the centre will lead to retaining the current students, tripling the enrolment at the centre and render it more conducive for teaching and learning,” she said.
“Let the work that we are doing here today not signify the end — but a brand new beginning. Let us leave Phakamile Learning Centre inspired, not only by the improvements made but by the collective efforts that have these improvements possible.”
INSIDE EDUCATION