Pretoria - Minister for Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on the Class of 2011 to consider opportunities offered by public FET colleges and not only focus on gaining acceptance to universities.
"Our youth must start realising that our post-school education and training system offers far more options than just what our universities have traditionally offered. Public FET colleges in particular offer skills that are in line with the country's growth and development imperatives.
"Even as we speak, our economy has a higher and more urgent demand for artisans, technicians, engineers and other scarce skills that can be sourced outside of universities," said the minister.
Nzimande said beyond universities there were also opportunities in learnerships, artisan training and internships, public FET colleges which offer both NC (V) and Nated (N) courses, as well as nursing and agricultural colleges.
He said there was also financial assistance available for deserving students from poor families through the National Financial Student Aid Scheme (NSFAS). However, students that attend private higher education institutions do not qualify for government's student financial aid. -
