Career Information - Post-SchoolEducation and Training

Introduction

As a CDP, you assist clients with their training needs to help them obtain the skills required for the career they desire. Obtaining these skills usually requires further education beyond school. A CDP must therefore know how to access Post-School Education and Training (PSET) programmes and courses, so they can correctly assist clients wishing to further their education. Matriculants form a large part of the audience CDPs support, and a considerable amount of time is dedicated to assisting with post-matric and institution information, which gives CDPs the ability to direct clients to the most suitable institutions and career paths.

Case study

Sabeh finished matric two years ago and could not proceed to tertiary education because she was injured in a taxi accident and did not apply in time. Since then, Sabeh had felt sad that she would not be able to secure a future for herself or support her parents when they needed help. She had once heard about PSET opportunities but could not find further information after matric, so she helped her parents sell vegetables in the nearby community while she waited, and dreamed of one day becoming a large-scale farmer.

She eventually went to her local career development centre to find out more about PSET opportunities. The CDP shared information about the offerings at a local TVET college and spoke about projects aimed at empowering local farmers. Sabeh learned about organisations such as the National African Farmers' Union (NAFU), Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD), and Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD). The CDP helped Sabeh fill in the relevant forms to receive training and assistance with rural farming.

Post-School Education and Training (PSET)

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) aims to increase access to what is known as Post-School Education and Training (PSET), for both successful matriculants and those who did not complete their matric. PSET encompasses all learning and teaching that occurs after high school. All private, public, formal and informal training institutions fall under PSET — universities, private institutions, TVET colleges, in-service training and apprenticeship programmes all form part of, and contribute to, the PSET sector.

The PSET landscape in South Africa consists of:

- 26 public universities.

- 94 accredited private higher education providers.

- 100 private providers.

- 31 provisionally accredited private higher education providers.

- 50 TVET colleges.

- Various specialised public colleges.

- 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

- Around 4,000 small institutes providing for SETA skills development needs.

- Public adult learning centres.

- The National Skills Fund.

- Regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Quality Councils, which are responsible for qualifications and quality assurance.

University

University courses mainly focus on academic rather than vocational training, so students do not get the same hands-on experience that students at a University of Technology acquire. Entry requirements for university courses differ significantly and can be quite specific to each university and course. Prospective students need a matric certificate with a bachelor's pass and strong marks to even be considered, and secondary school subject choices need to correspond with the qualification the applicant wishes to pursue.

Links to lists of universities:

- http://africauniversities.org/south-africa/

- https://www.usaf.ac.za/public-universities-in-south-africa/

TVET college

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges offer vocational and occupational courses aimed at giving students both academic knowledge and practical experience to prepare them for the workplace. TVET college courses vary from a few months to three years in duration. Entrance requirements are also less strict, as students can study certain courses without a matric certificate.

University of Technology

A University of Technology focuses on vocational tertiary education and offers career-focused courses with a strong practical, hands-on component. This gives students direct exposure to the type of work they will do in their chosen field, alongside the theoretical knowledge covered in their coursework.

Private institutions

Private institutions are tertiary providers that are not state-funded. Entry requirements, course offerings and costs vary considerably between institutions, so it is important for CDPs and clients to check that a private institution is properly accredited before enrolling.

Apprenticeship programmes

Apprenticeships combine structured learning with practical, on-the-job training in a specific trade. Apprentices work under the supervision of a qualified tradesperson while completing the theoretical component of their studies, and this route can lead to a nationally recognised trade qualification.

In-service training

In-service training refers to structured, practical workplace experience that is built into certain qualifications, allowing students to apply what they have learned in a real working environment before completing their studies.

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

The National Senior Certificate, popularly known as "matric", determines what post-school opportunities are open to a learner. There are three main types of matric pass, each of which opens different doors.

Bachelor's pass. This is the highest level of matric pass and is required for admission to most university degree programmes. It requires specific minimum marks in a defined number of subjects, including the language of learning and teaching.

Diploma pass. This pass allows admission to diploma programmes, typically at universities of technology or TVET colleges, and requires slightly lower minimum marks than a bachelor's pass.

Certificate pass. This is the minimum matric pass and allows admission to certificate-level programmes, generally at TVET colleges.

Entry requirements: understanding the Admission Point Score (APS)

Many institutions use an Admission Point Score (APS) to assess whether an applicant meets the entry requirements for a particular programme. The APS is calculated by converting a learner's matric subject percentages into points using a standard scale, and then adding these points together across a set number of subjects. Each institution sets its own minimum APS for each programme, so the same set of matric results might meet the requirements for one course but not another.

Conclusion

Understanding the full range of PSET opportunities — from universities and TVET colleges to apprenticeships and in-service training — allows a CDP to match each client with the pathway best suited to their results, circumstances and goals. Matric results alone do not determine a person's future; knowing where and how to access further training is often just as important.