Massive TVET transfer to DHET needs more time
5 March 2015
I will write to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, urging him to consider a postponement of the transfer of the Technical and Vocational Training Colleges (TVET) to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The deadline is currently 1 April 2015, which is set to negatively affect students by creating massive disruption to the curriculum currently underway.
A total of 38 000 staff working in TVET Colleges and millions of rands worth of assets, ranging from buildings to laboratories and office equipment, as well as all the budgets of the 51 TVETs (formerly known as FET Colleges), are set to officially move from the jurisdiction of the 9 Provinces to the DHET.
In this week's parliamentary Portfolio Committee briefing on the subject it became clear that the move is set to encounter multiple legal, financial and labour relations difficulties as soon as the official transfer date is reached.
The complexities are considerable: