Driving Awareness and Advocacy - Skills and Opportunities Through TVET and CETs

Driving Awareness and Advocacy - Skills and Opportunities Through TVET and CETs

Tshwane North TVET College (TNC), in partnership with Tshwane South TVET College, officially launched the Gauteng and Free State TVET Month Drive-By Campaign at the TNC Mamelodi Campus on 31 August 2026.

The campaign is a strategic advocacy initiative led by the Gauteng and Free State Marketing and Communications Forum, representing 12 TVET Colleges and two Community Education and Training (CET) Colleges across the two provinces. The initiative seeks to raise awareness of opportunities available within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector while encouraging young people and communities to consider vocational and occupational education as viable pathways towards employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.

The launch brought together Grade 9 to 11 learners, educators, college representatives, government stakeholders, industry partners and members of the broader community.

Delivering the welcome address, Tshwane North TVET College Principal, Ms Thembi Tsibogo, highlighted the critical role of TVET colleges in developing practical skills and preparing young people to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

She encouraged learners to explore TVET and CET opportunities as pathways that can equip them with relevant skills and open doors to further study, employment and entrepreneurship.

Representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), college management from Gauteng and the Free State, SETAs and other stakeholders also attended the launch. Among the speakers were Ms B. Molaudzi, Director: TVET Gauteng and Free State Region, and Mr N. Mokgotsane, Acting CEO of merSETA, representing the SETAs, who delivered messages of support.

The purpose of the campaign was outlined by Mr T. Mofokeng, Treasurer of the Gauteng and Free State Marketing and Communications Forum, who emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to increase awareness of vocational and occupational education opportunities.

Serving as programme director, Mr Frank Boikanyo addressed Life Orientation educators and other attendees on perceptions surrounding TVET colleges. He challenged the longstanding misconception that TVET colleges are primarily intended for learners who are not academically competent.

He emphasised that TVET colleges play a broader role in providing diverse education and training pathways, equipping learners with practical and occupational skills aligned with their interests, abilities and career aspirations.

The formal programme concluded with remarks from Mr Goodman Mnisi, Acting Principal of Tshwane South TVET College, who reinforced the importance of strengthening awareness of TVET opportunities among young people.

Following the formal proceedings, learners had an opportunity to engage directly with representatives from participating TVET colleges, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), including LGSETA and merSETA.

Grade 9 to 11 learners from Gatang Secondary School and Phateng Secondary School visited exhibition stalls, interacted with representatives and gathered information on study programmes, vocational training, occupational qualifications, skills development and career opportunities.

The engagements provided learners with an opportunity to ask questions, explore different career pathways and gain a better understanding of the programmes and opportunities available within the PSET sector.

The campaign also emphasised the importance of making informed education and career choices based on individual interests, abilities and long-term aspirations. Learners were encouraged to look beyond traditional perceptions of higher education and to consider the range of practical and occupational programmes offered by TVET and CET institutions.

The Gauteng and Free State TVET Month Drive-By Campaign continued from 31 August to 4 September 2026, travelling across the two provinces through school visits, community activations, exhibitions and stakeholder engagements.

The campaign set out to reach approximately 10,000 school learners, as well as more than 5,000 unemployed young people, parents and community members. Its objectives included promoting vocational and occupational education, increasing awareness of career and training opportunities within the PSET sector, and strengthening collaboration between TVET and CET colleges, industry, SETAs, schools, communities and other key stakeholders.

The campaign reaffirmed a central message: TVET and CET colleges offer diverse opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills, pursue further learning and prepare for participation in the world of work.

As the campaign travelled through Gauteng and the Free State, it continued to open doors to information, skills and opportunities—encouraging young people to explore education and training pathways that can contribute to their personal development and the broader socio-economic development of their communities.