As we continue to celebrate TVET and National Women’s Month, we asked Ms. Thembi Tsibogo, Principal from Tshwane North TVET College: What does it mean to celebrate TVET and Women’s Month in August?
Thembi Tsibogo responds: The main aim of celebrating the TVET month in August is to demystify the mindsets of those that regard TVET College programs as inferior compared to those offered by higher education institutions.
It serves to bring awareness to young prospective students who passed Grade 9 as well as those that have completed their Senior Certificate but are still not in employment, education, or training to seize opportunities of acquiring post-school qualifications offered at TVET Colleges.
As we celebrate Women and the TVET Sector in the same month, I wish to invite our prospective young female students and those that are not in employment, education, or training to consider enrolling at TVET Colleges.
Young females are encouraged to be bold enough to participate and enroll in programs that have always been male-dominated. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges where we find ourselves in a global digital economy that changes rapidly. For us to adapt to the “new normal”, we require a cadre of young people to be trained to take up future unknown jobs and be ready to embrace innovation and cognitive technologies of the 4IR like Artificial Intelligence, BlockChain, and Autonomous Mobility (Drones) to name but a few.
As we wish all the women a Happy Women’s Month, we also call upon the South African Citizens to plant the seeds of success in women and children to see real development.
“There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free, and educated woman” – Angelina Jolie.
