Minister Blade Nzimande congratulates student leadership and governance structure in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, congratulates the newly elected national student leadership and governance structure in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. It is a national umbrella body of all the SRCs in our TVET colleges.

The TVET College student leadership and structured held a national elective conference held in Cape Town, yesterday the 24th October 2020.

The following individuals were elected:

President
Mr Siphiwe Khumalo - Majuba College

Secretary
Ms Ashley Barends - South West Gauteng

Treasurer
Ms Ntsatsi Mothamaha - Maluti TVET College

Sport, Arts & Culture
Ms Andiswa Baka - NCRTVET

Students Funding
Ms Reanetse Koloko, Boland College

Policy Development & Student Performance
Mr Lesego Banda, College of Cape Town

Gender
Ms Nokwanda Mbuyane, Ehlanzeni College

Student Wellness, Disability and Campus Safety
Mr Lungisa Siboza, Ehlanzeni College

These executive members will be joined by the six (6) Provincial National Executive Commitee (NEC) members.

“What is pleasing to note is that this executive is composed of five (5) Females and three (3) males. These are indeed welcome developments within the post-school education and training sector,” said Minister Nzimande.

During his address to the conference on Saturday morning, 24 October 2020, Minister Nzimande said that it has been of concern to him that for some time now the TVET sector has not fully established and constituted a national student leadership body within the TVET college sector since the demise of the South African Further Education and Training Student Association (SAFETSA).

Minister Nzimande says that the current elected leadership should serve as a strong representative voice for students, play an active role towards improving the image of the sector, with student performance being an important starting point for shifting public perceptions about the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education.

Minister Nzimande has also urged the new leadership to bring themselves up to speed with the new developments taking place within the sector including the major review of TVET curricula, the revamping of the infrastructure and progress and challenges in the delivery of certificates and diplomas within the sector.

It is also important for this new leadership to continue to reflect upon the opportunities created by the new emergent landscape of higher education, science and innovation (HESI) brought about by the President’s decision to place the Departments of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and that of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) under one Ministry.

For instance, this new landscape has now brought under one umbrella five very crucial funding agencies in driving the new HESI landscape and our economic growth and development agenda:

  • The National Research Foundation
  • The National Student Financial Aid Scheme
  • The Sector Education and Training Authorities
  • The Technology Innovation Agency
  • The National Skills Fund

“These provide us with huge opportunities to fund our objectives and the HESI system in a synergised manner, thus significantly boosting our role and place in the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) space,” said the Minister.

Minister Nzimande said the leadership collective must also reflect on the increasing decline in the number of voting students participating in the elections of Student Representative Councils.

The Minister also said that this leadership must not lead by intimidation and force, but through persuasion and convincing arguments because there are some student leaders who often resort to intimidation, forcing students who do not want to participate in strikes out of classrooms, and forcibly disrupt other teaching and learning activities. This is often a reflection of, and also reinforces, declining confidence of students in student governance structures and leadership.

The Minister further said that the leadership must also protect public and college property against any destruction, as this is counter-productive and only serve to deprive current and future students use of much needed education infrastructure.

Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859

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