Pretoria News reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor regards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as the new hope in South Africa.  

She was speaking on Monday during the soft launch of the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisan Skills at the Tshwane South TVET College.  This came three months after South Africa and India signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate with one another in setting up the centre, which is designed to be a further step in promoting quality vocational education and training for young people, as well as meeting the need for artisan skills in the country.  Pandor said she regarded TVET colleges as extremely important tool in the fight against poverty.  “For me, the TVET colleges are the hope in South Africa and I’m very serious about them becoming part of the critical edge of skills development in the country.”  Indian High Commissioner to SA, Ruchira Kamboj, pointed out that the project was named after two immortal personalities who linked the two countries.  Specialisation at the college will be imparted in four areas: electrician, boilermaker, mechanical fitter and millwright.

• Read this report by Virgilatte Gwangwa in full at Pretoria News

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