More than a thousand prospective students come for GS College registration week
However, not all the prospective students will get a space as the campus has an enrollment target and more than half of the students will be turned away.
Thousands of prospective students converged at the Gert Sibande Technical and Vocational Education and Training College (GS College), Ermelo Campus, hoping to secure a space for this year during the registration week of 8 to 11 January.
More than a thousand students walked passed the revolving gates of GS College to pursue the National Certificate Vocational and Nated courses (N Courses) certificates.
New students were offered two days, 8 to 9 January, to register at the campus while returning students had the rest of the week to secure a place.
Many came as far as Nelspruit (Mbombela) and Ladysmith, with one goal in mind, and that is to secure a space in one of the best TVET colleges in the country.
The students began applying for space in the college the previous year when the online registration period opened between June and December, however, the influx of potential students was a staggering amount during the registration week with last minute applications coming through the way of walk-ins.
The GS College Student Support Services Office at the campus, led by Ms Sizakele Shabalala (Acting Education Specialist for Student Support Services), was tasked with assisting all prospective students.
However, not all the prospective students will get a space as the campus has an enrollment target and more than half of the students will be turned away.
“We can only accept a certain number of students for each course and unfortunately we cannot accept all of the walk-ins, Ms Shabalala said.
When the mother of a potential Ladysmith student was asked why she chose the Ermelo campus, she said the campus was the best in terms of facilities, education and environment.
After the registration week, the campus will present an orientation day where new students are welcomed and familiarized with the school.
“We have also invited various community stakeholders, including the Ermelo Police and Department of Health, who will present talks to our students so they make sensible choices when faced with problems in their lives.”
After orientation day, the classes at the Ermelo campus will begin on 14 February.
Ms Shabalala was adamant in saying TVET colleges offer the best education as their counterparts in universities.
“I would like to clarify that TVET’s are not for failing students. In recent times, employers prefer graduates from TVET colleges more than anything and our graduates are successful when go job seeking.”
Ms Shabalala added that the campus will be embarking on a campaign to raise awareness of early registration to secure space to lessen the rush of walk-ins the campus experiences during registration week.
“Parents should advice their children to apply as soon as possible online to avoid disappointment,” Ms Shabalala concluded.
