Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges equip students with skills that are needed in study fields that will require them to be functional workers in a skilled trade. These are skills that are much sought for to grow the country’s economy.
These institutions cater for young people who want to enrol for vocational programmes after Grade nine or after completing their matric.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, there are 50 registered and accredited public TVET Colleges in South Africa, which operate on approximately 364 campuses spread across rural and urban areas of the country.
In KwaZulu-Natal, there are a total of nine TVET colleges, and options that students may choose from in institutions that may be found in Durban include Coastal KZN TVET College, Thekwini TVET College and Elangeni TVET College.
Fortunately, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) does provide funding for students who are either registered or intend on registering for a programme at any of the TVET Colleges in Durban.
The government bursary scheme also funds the following TVET Colleges in the KwaZulu-Natal provinces:
- Esayidi TVET College
- Majuba TVET College
- Mnambithi TVET College
- Mthashana TVET College
- Umfolozi TVET College
- Umgugundlovu TVET College
In a statement, the government bursary scheme generally funds the programmes are below:
- Engineering Studies - (National Certificate -Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Engineering studies - Report 191 N1-N6
- Engineering and Related Design; Electrical Infrastructure; Civil Engineering Construction and Information Technology & Computer Science
- Business & Utility Studies (National Certificate – Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Report 191 N1-N6
- Management; Marketing; Finance; Office Administration; Economics & Accounting; Education & Development; Hospitality; Tourism; Safety in Society and Transport & Logistics
- Pre-Learning Programme (PLP) funding through NSFAS
However, students have been advised to also refer to their particular institutions for further research on the programmes that are funded by Nsfas.
Whilst tertiary fees and student accommodation increase on an annual basis, the Scheme is able to help students from low-income households that fall within the maximum threshold of up to R350,000 of combined gross.
