By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on businesses to open their workplaces to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students, saying stronger industry partnerships are essential to improving graduates’ employment prospects.

Manamela made the call on Thursday while officially launching TVET Month 2026 at Esayidi TVET College in KwaZulu-Natal, where he highlighted work-integrated learning as a key component of efforts to strengthen the country’s skills pipeline.

The launch, held under the theme “TVET: The Inclusive Home of Occupational Excellence, Driving the Skills Revolution”, brought together Grade 9 to 12 learners, TVET students and alumni, government representatives, industry partners and community members.

Manamela said government could not bridge the gap between skills training and employment on its own and urged companies to treat workplaces as places of learning.

“Our focus is to make sure that students spend some time … in the classroom, you spend some time in the workshop, you also spend some time in a workplace,” Manamela said.

He said South Africa could learn from countries with established dual training systems, but these systems worked because industry played an active role in training students.

“We cannot alone as government resolve the connection between skills and training,” he said.

“But all of those countries work because industry opened their doors, and the workplace is also seen as a learning place.”

Manamela called on businesses across sectors to take in students for workplace-based learning.

“If you’re running a farm, get students who are doing agricultural work. If you’re running a hair salon, get a student who’s doing hairdressing and beauty,” he said.

“So we really want to call on you as industry to adopt students and ensure that those students are placed in the workplace.”

The minister said the department was working with organisations such as the Department of Health and private-sector providers to create practical training opportunities for TVET students.

He also pointed to improvements in TVET college infrastructure and the quality of lecturers, saying students needed exposure to modern equipment and real-world industry practices.

“We have improved the infrastructure in our TVET colleges. We have the machinery that any child in many of our TVET colleges, any child anywhere in the world, be it in the continent,” Manamela said.

He said lecturers were increasingly being exposed to industry to ensure that training was informed by practical experience.

“There’s now emphasis on the fact that our lecturers need to have exposure to industry so that they don’t teach people mechanical engineering when they themselves have not seen the engine of a car,” he said.

Manamela said government was seeking to position TVET colleges as institutions of choice for young people considering further education, employment and entrepreneurship.

He encouraged learners to visit TVET campuses, speak to lecturers and students, and see the workshops and equipment available before making decisions about their futures.

“Universities are important institutions but TVET colleges are equally important institutions that I want to encourage you to experience,” he said.

The minister also urged Grade 12 learners to apply early for further education and financial aid rather than waiting until they received their matric results.

“It’s August already and I’m sure you have been at work preparing for your matric examination. I want to wish you all the best. But I also want to encourage you to apply now,” Manamela said.

He warned that learners who waited until after receiving their results could find themselves without a place at a university or TVET college, or without funding.

“We’ve seen many instances where students pass their matric with flying colours, get surprised by the number of distinctions that you have accumulated for that year, you get shocked by your success, you haven’t applied for university, you haven’t applied for NSFAS, you haven’t applied to a TVET college for next year,” he said.

“And so I want to encourage you to apply now and secure your space in these institutions now.”

Manamela said TVET colleges also provided opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship, pointing to Esayidi’s Maker’s Space as an example of initiatives encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

He said many students could study at TVET colleges without paying tuition fees through funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Sector Education and Training Authorities, colleges and other state entities.

“Most students who are studying at our TVET colleges are studying for free,” he said.

He added that students pursuing occupational trades could also receive stipends while undergoing their training.

Manamela said TVET graduates had strong employment prospects, particularly after completing work-integrated learning.

“A good proportion of TVET college graduates get employment almost immediately after completing, especially their work-integrated learning,” he said.

Manamela said TVET colleges offered learners an opportunity to combine classroom theory, practical training and workplace experience.

“We don’t only show you the picture of a car and tell you how it was made. We also allow you into the workshop to touch and feel the gearbox, to touch and feel whatever else that’s in the car,” he said.

He acknowledged that the TVET system still faced challenges but said its record of producing artisans and other skilled workers showed that it remained an important part of South Africa’s education and training system.

“It’s not yet a system that is perfect. It’s not a system that we want it to be where it should be,” he said.

“But if it’s a system that has produced the many artisans who’ve been absorbed into industry, it therefore means that it is a system which you can rely on.”

The department said TVET Month would include activities aimed at exposing school learners to TVET colleges, their programmes, workshops, lecturers, students and industry opportunities.

South Africa has 50 TVET colleges and more than 350 campuses across the country, offering training in fields including engineering, agriculture, ICT, plumbing, electrical work and other occupational programmes.

Manamela said the month-long campaign was intended to strengthen the profile of TVET colleges and encourage young people to consider them alongside universities when planning their futures.

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