A TVET College student in KwaZulu Natal is left hopeless and without a direction for 2025 after she has completed her first year of in-service training in Agriculture with the Department of Agriculture in KZN. Her friend who did her in-service training in Johannesburg has been forced into living with her boyfriend after the company decided to pause her in-service training immediately.
Over the years, the Department of Higher Education has encouraged students to use TVET Colleges as an alternative to universities. Stating that TVET College education is as important as that of the university. But this is not the case in the job market.
Nosipho Nzimande (not her real name) said that she did not receive any stipend from the Department during her in-service training. She comes from a poor family in deep rural KZN, she had to rely on her sister to offer accommodation and money for food and transportation.
Her sister is moving to a different province with her family, and Nosipho is left stranded, frustrated about her future, “my life is going nowhere mfethu, I will not be continuing with the in-service training because my sister is moving to another province for work. I am forced to go back home and just watch my life waste away. I am also looking for a job because I cannot afford to continue with my in-service training or studies, I am supposed to graduate next year, and I do not know what is going to happen.”
“I have also applied for the NSFAS so that I can study via UNISA, but my NSFAS shows no progression. To tell you the truth, I am depressed most of the time. I cried a lot, all I ever wanted was to prioritize education to change the situation at home. I am 21 years old with no child, I want to do well mfethu, my peers have fallen pregnant and have children just to get the child support grant. My best friend is in an abusive relationship with a boy because he has a room in Joburg, my friend needs to be in Joburg for her in-service training.”
“The Department prioritizes university students when it comes to stipends. I love agriculture mfethu, but now this?” Concludes Nosipho.
If you are in a position to help this young lady complete her studies by offering her in-service training with a stipend or know someone who is in a position to help, please get in touch with us at stories@tagmyschool.co.za we will connect you with this young lady.
The Department of Higher Education Deputy Minister Bhuti Manamela is a strong advocate for TVET College education. He is one individual that is genuine about service delivery in this area. In one of the interviews, he mentioned that they are working on a TVET College Campaign to promote the importance of these colleges. Hopefully after reading this interview, they will step in and encourage Corporate SA to come to the table.