Abstract:

The TVET colleges were established in 2007 after the amalgamation of 150 colleges in South Africa, which were initially called the Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, and in 2012 they were renamed the TVET colleges as a way to strengthening the post school education system as a whole by expanding access to education and training opportunities and increasing equity and strengthening the South African skilled labour force which are the primary sites for vocational education.

The study aimed at investigating the quality assurance trends in TVET Colleges in Limpopo Province of South Africa. For the purpose of this study, the researcher used qualitative and quantitative approaches, descriptive and exploratory designs. The participants were purposely selected which included 2 principals, and 9 educators. Data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods. The study revealed that quality assurance is compromised in TVET colleges.

A number of challenges were found to be the main source of quality assurance failures which included examinations, inadequate teacher qualifications and poor teaching, poor leadership and management practices, low standards, failure to accredit and register colleges by Umalusi (Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training), inadequate resourcing such as moderators, translators and reviewers. The study recommends that the system be reviewed and clear policies and guidelines peculiar to Limpopo Province be established as one approach does not necessarily work across different contexts.

Keywords:

Quality Assurance, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Practice in Education.