MBOMBELA – Education at Ehlanzeni TVET colleges is equally important for the youth, but authorities have appealed for respect from students to apply in a reasonable time like they do with other institutions of higher learning.
Head of communications, Mr Mxolisi Ndimande, said, “With due respect, our deadline for applications was in October, but come January after the results have been announced, then queues build up at our Mbombela campus by students.
“I’d like to inform potential students that we have the same courses at all the campuses, so it is advisable that one applies at their nearest one which makes a lot of economic sense.
“Imagine a student of Barberton applying here, then one either wants to be at the residence or will need to be provided with a transport fee on top of the free tuition fee we provide even for students from well-to-do backgrounds, because when they apply here they do so as indigents, which is not fair for those who are disadvantaged.
“As a result of the above anomalies, the college is not making money from any enrolments, instead it gives out freely from its meagre budget. Some people perceive the college to have a big budget, yet it’s small, hence we appeal for reasoning from both parents and students regarding our budget so that we can accommodate even more people,” explained Ndimande.
TVET colleges offer engineering and business studies and are reputable among many companies which continue to offer internships and work to students. It also has a skills centre in Matsulu.
Another area of concern raised by Ndimande is the issue of strikes, which disrupt tuition and examinations. “We know for a fact that there are a few militant and activist students who are concocting a strike as we speak. They must remember it is exam time during this period, whereby students need to be evaluated for a whole year’s work and next year some have to enter the employment market, others embark on their businesses from the skills- development centre, while others need to be engaged in internships.
“It’s actually a bad timing to embark on a strike for unreasonable reasons. The instigators are the same and they have been at the college for far too long without recording any passes in their respective courses. We can’t expel them as they have a right to an education, but they need to be fair to everybody involved and allow students to study uninterrupted,” he ended.
