Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged young South Africans to apply early to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges for the 2027 academic year, warning prospective students not to wait until January to begin the process.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has opened the September 2026 application period, with applications closing on 30 September.
Manamela said young people should use the application window to explore their interests, understand the different occupational programmes offered by TVET colleges and identify the skills they want to acquire.
Prospective students can apply using their previous year’s results, allowing them to begin the process before final results for the current academic year are available.
The minister said making decisions about education and training early was important for young people seeking opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship and further education.
“We must change the way we think about TVET Colleges. They are not a second choice for young people who do not get admitted into a university,” Manamela said.
He said TVET colleges were one of the pathways available in the post-school education and training sector and were central to government’s Skills Revolution.
“We are building a Post-School Education and Training system that connects learning to the skills our economy needs and creates pathways from education to opportunity,” he said.
Manamela encouraged young people to make use of the available opportunities and consider TVET colleges as institutions of choice rather than alternatives to universities.
TVET colleges provide vocational and occupational education and training aimed at equipping students with practical skills that can be used in the workplace or for entrepreneurship.
The minister also called on parents, guardians, teachers and Life Orientation educators to play an active role in helping young people make decisions about their future.
He urged adults supporting learners to start conversations about career choices, explain the different education and training pathways available and encourage young people to consider TVET colleges when planning their careers.
According to the ministry, government is seeking to strengthen the link between education, skills development and economic opportunities through the Skills Revolution.
The initiative aims to ensure that education and training lead to skills, skills lead to opportunities and opportunities contribute to young people’s participation in the economy.
Manamela’s message to prospective students is to “Explore. Choose. Apply.”
The minister’s call comes as thousands of young people prepare to make decisions about their education and training for the next academic year.
The department said information about TVET colleges and available programmes could be obtained directly from colleges or through the Department of Higher Education and Training website.
Prospective students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the programmes offered by different colleges and complete their applications before the 30 September deadline.
The ministry said applying early could help students avoid the pressure associated with waiting until January, when some opportunities may already be limited.
