Challenges Experienced by TVET Colleges in Producing Skilled Workforces

Abstract

The post-apartheid education policies were developed to eradicate inequality of learner performance and racial composition of schools and vocational colleges. Vocationalising education is a solution for skills gap. This chapter is based on the study that focused on vocational pedagogic and didactic practices, workshop material and equipment for practical training, work-integrated learning, and integration of theory and practice in vocational subjects. The methodology of collecting data were interviews and observations. The participants of the study were seven lecturers at three TVET colleges, who were selected purposefully. The empirical results from three TVET colleges investigated showed that vocational pedagogy and practical skills training is not responding to the needs of workplaces and leads to the high unemployment of youth. There are no practical activities at the colleges; hence, there is no integration of theory and practicals in vocational subjects. This study found that the curricula offered at the TVET colleges is irrelevant and requires urgent review in order to respond to the current workplace requirements.