PROGRAMME OFFERING
The College’s main core business is the offering of Ministerial approved programmes (Academic) as listed in table 2 below. Completion of these programmes qualifies a student for a GETC Level 1 certificate which is the equivalent of Grade 9.
| Formal Qualifications |
| AET – Level 1 |
| AET – Level 2 |
| AET – Level 3 |
| AET – Level 4 |
| Senior Certificate |
To address the societal issues of poverty, ill heath, unemployment, illiteracy and inequalities, the College strives to provide Non-Formal and Skills Programmes as listed in table 3 below.
| Non-Formal Qualification |
| Computer Literacy |
| Agriculture |
| Pottery |
| Sewing |
| Learner’s Licence |
| Beading |
| Ancillary Health |
| Home Based Care |
| Palliative Care |
| Poultry |
| Pottery |
| Woodwork |
| Décor & Care |
| Fashion Design |
| Craft Skills |
In order to ensure the success of these programmes and attempts in improving success, five (5) Pilot Community Learning Centres have been identified within the Province. The aim is to focus resources to ensure proper community research and relevant responsive programme development. These pilot centres are listed in table 4 below together with programmes offered.
| District | Name of the Centre | Non-Formal Programme offered | Centre Manager |
| Alfred Nzo | Osborn CLC | • Palliative Care • Training on traditional circumcision • Crop production • Career exhibition • Learner’s license • Computer Literacy |
Mr Nkomokazi |
| Port Elizabeth | Soweto- on- sea CLC | • Sewing • Beadwork |
Ms Simelela |
| Uitenhage | Phakamile CLC | • Beadwork • Sewing • Plumbing • Welding |
Ms Tsawu |
| East London | Frere Hospital CLC | • Ancillary Health Care • Sewing • I.C.T |
Mr Felani |
| Raymond Mhlaba | Fort Beaufort CLC | • Family Literacy Project • Home Gardening • Old age support • Beading &Sewing |
Mr Hloma |
The programmes are free of charge and are fully funded by the Department.
STUDENTS
The College main targeted students are the out of school youth and adults who for certain circumstances are not able to attend basic schooling and or tertiary education. These circumstance range from basic school drop-out, lack of schooling opportunities and other socials factors and ills. Many of these students (young and old) are forced to enter the labour market due to different backgrounds and others have given up looking for employment.
Teaching and learning
The College provides teaching and learning through the 277 CLCs across the Province. These are grouped to the 23 districts as stated earlier in this document (see table 1 and figure 1 above). Teaching is provided by qualified lecturers who are appointed by DHET. Each CLC is managed by the Centre Manager, who is running all the administrative responsibilities of the Centre.
In order to accommodate the diverse students and their social needs, teaching is offered in communities through the relevant local schools and or any other community premises such churches, halls, etc. As the targeted students many are in the employment market or committed with other things, teaching starts mainly at 15h00 and runs for a maximum of 3 hours per day. This arrangement applies to CLCs that are utilising community facilities, however where CLCs have their own facility, these times will vary from CLC to CLC.
Quality Assurance
In ensuring quality assure of the teaching and learning, DHET developed a policy document. This policy document seeks to address the definition of curriculum as a statement of intended outcomes to be achieved, what knowledge content is to be required, which competencies and skills are to be developed and the level of performance that are expected from students. The policy document further supports the approach to curriculum within the uMalusi sub-framework as encompassing three components:
- The intended curriculum: documented curriculum for a qualification that provides a detailed description in terms of depth, breadth and level of difficulty and cognitive demand of what is required for the purpose of the qualification to be fullfilled
- The enacted curriculum: the delivery of the curriculum in an institution which includes leadership and management, the ethos and values, teaching and learning, extra- curricular activities, student support
- The assessed curriculum: the internal and external examinations of the intended curriculum
Partnerships
One of the College’s strategic objectives is to forge links and maintain partnerships. The main approach is to engage relevant stakeholders and potential funders with the main objective being to ensure access to the communities we seek to serve.
LEGISLATION
The founding legislation of the College is the Continuing Education Act 16 of 2006 and pronouncement by the Minister on Higher Education and Training (see Annexures A to E). The College currently has its office at Nelson Mandela University, Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth. Plans are currently underway to relocate the office once suitable office space are identified as the current arrangements were temporal.