Budget Vote Speech by Hon. Deputy Minister Buti Manamela , Vote 17: Higher Education and Training, National Assembly, 2025
Chairperson, Honourable Members,
Community Education and Training—our CET system—is the soul of inclusive education in South Africa. It is the bridge between learning and livelihood, between survival and opportunity, especially for those left behind by the formal education system. And in this Budget Vote, it must take its rightful place at the centre of our transformation agenda.
Over the past year, we have made measurable progress in the CET sector. Completion rates at our Community Education and Training Centres improved by 15%, supported by curriculum review, better learner support, and stronger community outreach. For 2025/26, we aim to increase CET enrolments by 10%, focusing on rural and township communities where the hunger for knowledge meets the need for economic empowerment.
We will roll out e-learning platforms across all CET Centres to bridge the digital divide, and we will pilot blended learning models in partnership with universities and TVET colleges. We are finalising plans with provincial governments to repurpose over 200 unused schools and community buildings into vibrant, modern CET learning spaces—because education cannot be the preserve of urban centres alone.
But Chairperson, CET is not only about access. It is about relevance. That is why we are retooling our programmes to align with community needs: agro-processing, early childhood development, construction skills, and digital literacy. We are also working with the Department of Small Business Development to open local markets for CET learners to showcase and sell their products—whether it is food, craft, music or design.
Gender-based violence continues to afflict our learning spaces. Through Higher Health, we have begun implementing behavioural change workshops, reaching thousands of young people—particularly men—and placing dignity, accountability, and care at the heart of campus life. In the year ahead, our goal is to train 10,000 GBV ambassadors across the PSET system, including CETCs, while introducing a national anonymous GBV reporting platform, integrated with support and referral services.
Chairperson, our broader post-school system is also on the move:
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University graduation rates have increased by 8%
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TVET job placements have grown by 22% through new industry partnerships
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INSETA, FOODBEV and SASSETA are innovating boldly—training young people in AI, green energy, and community safety
But we are clear: none of this is enough if our CET colleges remain under-supported. That is why the 2025/26 budget commits R1 billion to CET infrastructure upgrades, with a focus on digital labs, accessible classrooms, and community-linked centres of learning. We will roll out skills programmes in 100 rural and township communities, placing women and youth at the centre of our skills revolution.
Chairperson, this Budget is not just a set of numbers. It is a commitment to the millions of South Africans who wake up every day wanting to learn, to grow, to contribute. We cannot allow poverty or place of birth to determine the ceiling of potential.
Because the future belongs to those who build it—with knowledge, courage, and integrity.
I thank you.
