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Lucubrate Magazine, January 28th, 2023
Technical vocational education and training (TVET) is integral to a country’s educational system. It teaches students practical skills. TVET programs address changing industry needs by teaching practical skills that transfer well to the workplace.
Many industries may remain competitive in the global market only if they have sufficient skilled workers, regardless of their skill sets. Therefore, TVET programs need to accommodate changes in industry requirements by teaching graduates relevant skills. In addition, professional jobs such as medicine or IT administration still need to be made available to people with sufficient training. What about TVET in South Africa?
TVET is an important factor in South Africa
TVET is an important factor in South Africa‘s economic development. Challenges in the country’s TVET system exist regarding various aspects. The need for the development of lecturers is an important aspect. [1]
The government of South Africa is aware of the many benefits of TVET. They’ve launched several initiatives to increase student enrollment in technical schools. For example, they recently opened the first state university in Africa. They also provide high school students with information about which schools have good TVET programs. The plan is to increase the number of people who take advantage of TVET programs.
TVET provides the skills needed for employment, which is essential for the growth of any economy. It also helps reduce poverty and inequality, giving people better job opportunities. TVET also contributes to developing a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of both local and global markets. Thus, it plays a crucial role in South Africa’s economic progress.
Due to a shift in South Africa’s economy towards the service sector, the existing skills composition does not fit the needs anymore and may hinder further development. Foreign and local companies have a high demand for skilled workers. [1]
TVET from a woman’s perspective in South Africa
Women need to catch up when it comes to completing TVET courses. Many workplaces only hire men for technical jobs, so it’s difficult for female employees to gain experience in technical fields. The low enrollment of female students in TVET courses leads to fewer highly skilled women in South Africa.
Shifting focus towards female empowerment through TVET helps address gender issues facing South Africans today. It is a way to go when we look at technical education has many benefits for women and the country. It also encourages women to pursue careers that will help the country economically. In the future, promoting female empowerment through TVET will be even harder without increasing the number of high-quality female school teachers.
A study showed that while the South African government has been supporting the TVET sector through increased funding, improved infrastructure and staff training, TVET still needs to be embraced as a viable post-school system by many South Africans. None of the women participants in the study wanted to enrol at a TVET college yet ended up opting for this owing to constraints, such as poor passes, an inability to afford a university education, and having dropped out of university for various reasons. An examination of the experiences of women students revealed multiple challenges, such as sexist comments from lecturers, feelings of alienation, sexual harassment, too much workload and the inability to participate in learning actively. [3]
Technical education has many benefits for women as well as the country as a whole. Shifting focus towards female empowerment through TVET helps address gender issues facing South Africans today. It also encourages women to pursue careers that will help the country economically. In the future, promoting female empowerment through TVET will be even harder without increasing the number of high-quality female school teachers.
Education is vital for economic and social development.
Many studies underline that education and training for productive employment are vital for economic and social development. An example is a study from Asia and the Pacific. The study concludes that technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a tool for productivity enhancement and poverty reduction. Although skilled human resources are the primary asset of many countries, an inadequately educated workforce is still among the most problematic factors for doing business. As there is a strong correlation between the proportion of TVET students at the post-secondary level and per capita income, many countries have taken steps to strengthen policy guidance and regulatory frameworks for technical and vocational education and training and to improve partnerships with the private sector and employers. However, there is a difference between developed and less developed countries regarding their priorities regarding TVET. The first group of countries emphasize quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation of TVET, and the availability of national development plans. Still, the second group of countries focus on the cost of enrolment and implementation of TVET.[2]
Conclusion
Educating girls and women, in addition to being a human right, represents a benefit to all of us because it contributes to reducing inequality and poverty and strengthening democratic citizenship in the countries.
References
[1] The South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training System from a German Perspective. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341646223_The_South_African_Technical_and_Vocational_Education_and_Training_System_from_a_German_Perspective [accessed Jan 28 2023].
[2] Pavlova, M. (2014). TVET as an important factor in country’s economic development. SpringerPlus, 3(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-S1-K3
[3] Pavlova, M. (2014). TVET as an important factor in country’s economic development. SpringerPlus, 3(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-S1-K3
Lucubrate Magazine January 2023
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