TVET for that 'sustainable future': Complexity of re-crafting the system for an inclusive South African reality

Skills development in context for the post-school education and training system has been the focus of considerable attention since the establishment of the Department of the Higher Education and Training (DHET) in 2010. The... [ view full abstract ]

Skills development in context for the post-school education and training system has been the focus of considerable attention since the establishment of the Department of the Higher Education and Training (DHET) in 2010. The myriad challenges faced have been captured in a strategy White Paper, while the ‘turnaround strategy’ to enable resolution was already underway as this was being developed. At the same time, the Human Resources Development Council of South Africa (HRDC_SA) was tasked with the responsibility of recommending a set of concrete proposals to revitalize the sector. In particular, the HRDC, as a high-level policy and implementation entity with the Deputy President as chairperson, was established to respond to a range of skills development blockages at the highest level, and perhaps provide a multi-ministerial response to these challenges. With regard to TVET, the Council was required to propose a set of recommendations that could meaningfully ‘expand access; and ‘increase quality’. This paper focuses on the conceptualization and implementation of this task and the results thereof. It compares this process with other developments at the time and reflects on the complexity of the responsibility, the results of it and the likely impacts of them. The paper will demonstrate the way in which policy development is perceived with inside and outside forces and varied entities vying for ascendency. The paper explores the implications of this process for policy implementation so as to suggest lessons for achieving TVET for that ‘sustainable futures’ we need.