Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged companies across sectors to provide workplace-based learning for students from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, saying government cannot close the skills-to-employment gap alone.
Workplaces must become learning sites, minister says
Speaking at the official launch of TVET Month 2026 at Esayidi TVET College in KwaZulu-Natal, Manamela stressed that practical, employer-hosted learning is a key component of strengthening the country’s skills pipeline. The event brought together learners from Grades 9 to 12, TVET students and alumni, government representatives, industry partners and local community members.
Manamela told the gathering that classroom and workshop instruction must be complemented by time in real workplaces so learners gain the experience employers expect. He said South Africa could adapt lessons from countries with established dual training systems, but such systems function only when industry plays an active training role.
"We cannot alone as government resolve the connection between skills and training," Manamela said. "All of those countries work because industry opened their doors, and the workplace is also seen as a learning place."
Targeted placements across sectors
The minister urged firms to recruit students relevant to their activities — from agriculture to beauty services — and to adopt students for workplace placements. He framed this as a practical request to employers: to view operational sites as extensions of the workshop and classroom.
Manamela said the department is collaborating with organisations including the Department of Health and private-sector providers to expand practical training opportunities for TVET students. He also highlighted recent improvements in college infrastructure and lecturer quality as part of efforts to strengthen TVET outcomes.
- Theme of TVET Month 2026: "TVET: The Inclusive Home of Occupational Excellence, Driving the Skills Revolution".
- Participants at the launch: Grade 9–12 learners, TVET students and alumni, government and industry representatives.
- Focus areas: Work-integrated learning, industry partnerships, practical training placements.
Why employer involvement matters
Manamela presented workplace-based learning as a shared responsibility: government provides training platforms and upgraded college facilities, but employers must accept trainees and provide on-the-job mentoring and supervision. He used examples to illustrate the point: farms hosting agricultural students and salons taking trainees in hairdressing and beauty.
By calling on industry to "adopt" students for placements, the minister signalled an expectation that employers will play a proactive role in shaping the practical skills of future workers. This approach aims to reduce the mismatch between what training institutions teach and what employers need in practice.
Implications for learners and employers
For learners, increased workplace exposure can translate into improved practical competence, clearer career pathways and stronger prospects of employment after qualification. For TVET colleges, deeper industry links can inform curriculum relevance and create routes for learners to gain accredited work experience.
Employers stand to gain a supply of candidates whose skills are honed to real workplace conditions. The minister’s appeal suggests government will continue to invest in college capacity while relying on the private sector to provide experiential learning opportunities that cannot be fully replicated in classrooms or workshops.
| Stakeholder | Expected role |
|---|---|
| Government | Upgrade infrastructure, improve lecturer quality, coordinate placements |
| TVET colleges | Prepare students technically and liaise with industry |
| Industry | Host students for workplace-based learning and mentorship |
At the launch, the minister framed the partnership as essential if South Africa is to scale up its skills revolution and make TVET the inclusive home of occupational excellence. He reiterated that while government can set the stage, businesses must open their doors and their operations to learners for on-the-job learning to become routine.
The call comes amid broader government efforts to strengthen vocational pathways and enhance labour-market outcomes for young people pursuing vocational and technical qualifications.
