After losing its institutional accreditation from the Certification Council for Technikon Education in 2002, the now refurbished Taung Agricultural College (TAC) is ready to offer a Diploma in Agriculture, effective from January 2010.
The North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development managed to proficiently upgrade the college’s infrastructure, which was the main reason behind the loss of accreditation.
Expressing his delight over the revitalisation and readiness of the institution, MEC for Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development Mr Boitumelo Tshwene urged prospective students to make use of this long awaited opportunity by applying for enrolment into the programme, and must do so by the end of this month.
“It took us some time to complete the upgrading process” explains MEC Tshwene, “because we needed to satisfy ourselves with all the technicalities, and we believe the process was worthwhile”, says MEC Tshwene.
MEC Tshwene says the significant value that this development will add to the farming industry, will not only be for the benefit of the North West province, but will also support the neighbouring Northern Cape province by admitting some of its future farmers and agricultural professionals into the programme.
In accordance with the normal effective class at an Agricultural College, TAC will register between 30 to 35 students for first year studies, who will be admitted into an national qualifications framework (NQF) level 6 (360 credits) Diploma in Agriculture: mixed farming with a specialisation in irrigation. The first two years will be 70 percent theory and 30 percent practicals and vice versa in the final year.
Since 2003, the college has been offering a vocational N3 to N6 programmes in Farming Management as well as Further Education and Training (FET), for farmers. The vocational programme has however been discontinued as the college is being reorganised to offer both the diploma and FET programmes.
All 12 colleges of agriculture in South Africa, Taung included, are currently undergoing re-organisation so as to be in line with norms and standards, and this process is spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
For more information on the application processes, prospective students are urged to contact the college on 053 994 9806 before the closing date of 30 November 2009.
Enquiries:
B Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5719 or 5768
Fax: 018 384 4571
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
19 November 2009
