Pretoria - There are more that 500 000 opportunities in South Africa’s post school education and training system, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said on Monday.
“We would like them (2015 matriculants) aware of approximately 517 402 opportunities available for them within the post school system. That is in our 26 universities, 50 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, and various work-related training opportunities,” Nzimande told reporters in Pretoria.
Nzimande said the opportunities include:
*212 472 new entrant opportunities at universities
*133 551 engineering and business studies opportunities at TVET colleges
*88 794 occupationally-directed (apprenticeship or learnership) opportunities in collaboration with TVET colleges, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and employers
*30 750 new artisan learners to be registered and
*51 835 learning programme opportunities in the form of 5 087 apprenticeships, 9 073 bursaries, 20 138 learnerships, 17 537 skills and work readiness programmes supported through SETAs.
Nzimande said government will ensure economically challenged, but academically pursuant young people are not elbowed out of the system.
“NSFAS will be funding 205 000 first-time entering and continuing eligible students at universities and 200 000 students at TVET colleges in 2016 by providing student loans and bursaries totalling R10 billion,” said Nzimande.
“Government has committed an additional R6, 912 billion funding to support university education in the system. This is a strong indication that government has listened to the concerns raised by university students. As an immediate measure, we have resolved the zero percent fee increment for 2016 with universities, which amounted to R2, 33 billion.”
Nzimande said University students who meet NSFAS “means test” will not be required to pay upfront payments when registering for the 2016 academic year.
African News Agency
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