Further Education and Training
Colleges in the Western Cape

WHAT ARE FET (previously Technical) COLLEGES?

The main aim of FET Colleges is to provide high-quality education and training that offers a wide range of learning options. In doing so, FET Colleges strive towards equipping learners with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes, values and competencies that will allow them to access life-long learning opportunities and thereby ensure that they become economically-productive members of their society.

THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF A FET COLLEGE

• FET Colleges are education and training providers in a variety of vocational fields.
• FET Colleges provide programmes (previously referred to as courses) that have integrated subject offerings so that learners are equipped with more marketable skills in order to ensure work readiness.
• Programmes offered at FET Colleges are nationally examined and certified in the following broad areas of study:
• • Engineering Studies
  • Business Studies
  • Social Services
  • Utility Industries
  • Visual and Performing Arts
• Programmes offered at FET Colleges are designed in collaboration with commerce and industry.
• FET Colleges offer both formal and non-formal programmes.

FET Colleges will be the first institutions to be declared Public Further Education and Training Institutions in terms of the Further Education and Training Act of 1998.

QUALIFICATIONS

FORMAL PROGRAMMES:

Learners may obtain any of the following National Certificates and Diplomas

• Pre-matriculation:
  • National Certificate (NCOR)
  • National Certificate (N I-N3)
  • National Intermediate Certificate (NIC)
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC)
• Post-matriculation
  • National Certificate (N4-N6)
  • National Certificate: Multi-Disciplinary Drawing Office
  • Practice (N4/N5)
  • National N Diploma (N-Dip)
  • Certificate of Competence for Engineers

NON-FORMAL PROGRAMMES

These programmes are aimed at the enrichment and upliftment of communities and to meet the specific needs of the various industries served by the Colleges. Colleges are able to respond rapidly to the needs of industry by designing customised programmes for a specific enterprise or industry. Many of these programmes meet the criteria stipulated by industry and are accredited by the relevantTraining Boards (soon to become Sector Education and Training Authorities or SETAS).

ACCREDITATION

Courses at FET Colleges are accredited by various Industry Training Boards (soon to become SETAS) as well as by other internationally accredited institutions.

Please refer to the directory of Colleges for further details.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Pre-matriculation programmes:
  • ABET - semi or non-literate applicants
  • NC(OR) - Grade 8 or equivalent
  • N1 - Grade 9 or equivalent
  • N2 - Grade 10
  • N3 - Grade 11
  • National Intermediate Certificate - Grade 10
  • National Senior Certificate - Grade 12

Learners may be required to have successfully completed Mathematics and Science at school in order to gain access to some of the Engineering fields of study. A National Certificate Orientation course (NCOR) is available for those who have not met the above-mentioned requirements and wish to embark on an engineering career. The Adult Basic Education and Training programme (ABET) focuses on semi -or non-literate persons. An entry level test has to be taken. Further leniency is given to those who have been employed for a period of at least two years on condition that he/she is interviewed to determine readiness (recognition of prior learning).

• Post-matriculation programmes:
  • Senior Certificate or equivalent for N4
  • N4 Certificate or equivalent for N5
  • N5 Certificate or equivalent for N6
  • N6 Certificate and 18 months of relevant work experience within a particular study field to obtain the National N-Diploma.

FIELDS OF STUDY

Programmes within this field of study fall under broad categories such as Building and Civil Engineering, Metal and Mechanical Engineering, Motor Mechanics, Electrical Engineering as well as programmes in Horticulture, Maritime Studies and Multi-disciplinary Drawing Office Practice.

Business Studies include programmes in Management {Business, Financial, Marketing, Human Resources and Public Management) and Secretarial {Administrative, Legal Secretary, Management Assistant, Medical Secretary and Public Relations).

This field of study encompasses workplace-oriented training in Early Childhood Development {Educare), Care of Children, the Handicapped and the Aged.

This field of study encompasses workplace-oriented training in Clothing Production, Hospitality and Food Services, Haircare and Cosmetology, Interior Decorating and Tourism.

This field of study encompasses workplace-orientated training in Art and Design, Music and Ballet.

Most of the above programmes are offered on a full-time and/or part-time basis and also through distance learning.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING AS AN EXCELLENT
EDUCATION OPTION

• The programmes have been designed to integrate theory and practice where skills are underpinned by knowledge, thereby ensuring that the learner is prepared for the world of work.
• Entrance requirements are flexible.
• The programmes are affordable.
• After each trimester/semester/year course, a certificate is issued. Studies may be interrupted and may be resumed at a later stage depending on the duration of the course.
• The formal programmes are of comparatively short duration and could range from a minimum of three months to a maximum of two years.
• There is a large variety of programmes in different fields of study, such as: full-time certificate and diploma programmes, part-time formal and non-formal programmes, life skills, skills training and enrichment programmes and Grade 10-12 programmes.
• A learner can do individual subjects as part of a course while he/she is working through part-time or distance learning.
• Colleges have modern, up-to-date resource centres.
• Sporting facilities are available at most of the Colleges.
• Colleges are centrally situated with convenient access to various modes of transport.
• Hostel accommodation is available at some of the Colleges.
• Besides serving the needs of the broader community, Colleges also provide learners who have been marginalised, with opportunities to acquire relevant up to date vocational and industrial skills.
• Colleges offer a large variety of programmes that will allow unemployed people, school-going and out-of-school youths as well as adults, to pursue their spheres of interest, be they formal or non-formal programmes.

Please consult the tables of programmes which are offered at specific FET Colleges as well as their contact details. For further information contact your nearest FET College.

FIELDS OF STUDY

This section does not follow the format of the brochure 'Focus on Colleges'