Author: Mpho

Dear Esteemed Stakeholders, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As we navigate through an eventful academic year, I am delighted to share some key developments and highlights from various units within our college.

Your continued support and collaboration are vital to our success, and I am confident that the information below will provide you with a comprehensive update on our progress for the year.

At Taletso TVET College, we are committed to fostering a thriving educational environment through continuous improvement and innovation. Our dedicated efforts in enhancing governance, strengthening internal controls, achieving academic excellence, and improving infrastructure have been pivotal in our journey.

Key highlights include:

• Governance: We are pleased to announce the appointment of new ministerial appointees to our council, bringing diverse expertise and perspectives to our governance structure.
• Internal Controls: Significant steps have been taken to enhance our financial and administrative processes, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and reliability.
• Academic Achievements: Our students and staff continue to excel, showcasing their talents in various competitions and academic endeavours.
•  Infrastructure Enhancements: Numerous projects are underway to improve our campus facilities, ensuring a conducive learning environment for all. We remain dedicated to our mission of providing high-quality education and support to our students, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our stakeholders to achieve our shared goals.

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The class of 2021-2022 graduates were visibly excited to finally have as well the opportunity to be confirmed as having achieved and met the requirements. The Mmabatho Convention Centre became the centre of attention as onlookers and passers-by were looking at Men and Women dressed to the nines. Equally for them like the previous graduates it would be a moment to be savoured for a lifetime. Based on the contagious levels of elation exhibited by all witnessing the spectacle, it became obvious that for many it marked a first in their homesteads to ascend the stage, a proud moment it was.

This time around the tradition was restored to how graduation ceremonies a held, a noticeable contrast from the Covid-19 regulated “Stage-Run” that warranted newer and innovative ways of doing things to prevent more spreading of the virus. Apprentices, Entrepreneurs, Clerks, Cooks and Chefs, Farmers and various disciplines in-waiting had made it.

It was a moment for the college to reflect and measure itself against its mandate of growing a sufficiently skilled human capital towards an empowered and better future! Lecturers, who continue to shine and give of themselves by imparting skill and knowledge to the students, and where applicable doing so together with the help of interpreters, make it work even for those students who live with disabilities. The College Student Support Officers across the college landscape (3 campus sites – Mahikeng/Lichtenburg/Lehurutshe) leave no stone unturned to offer support including but not limited to Financial Aid(Nsfas) amongst others.

Governments at all levels and societies have demonstrated a remarkable level of responsiveness, cooperation and adaptability to the Covid19 pandemic.

The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla stated on 22 June 2022 to repeal the Covid19 regulations on the wearing of face marks, public gatherings and people entering the country.  All stakeholders who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to do so to reduce the chance of severe illness and death. The vaccination programme will remain and is now integrated into normal health services.

The 2022 academic year is now in full swing, our campuses are abuzz with activities again for the first time in nearly two years. The ‘new normal’ is a myth, as the future will never be normal again. This is a narrative we have to embrace as a college as we strive to become a future fit. This will entail the realignment of delivery models to suit online and hybrid training models that are supported by a proper, efficient and well-capacitated ICT infrastructure and applications.

Taletso is making solid progress towards achieving its Taletso 2021-25 Strategic Plan. This cannot be achieved without the commitment and support of management, lecturing and support staff, the I-Student Representative Council and stakeholders. It is promising and motivating. The College’s continued underperformance in the audit outcome of the 2020 financial year needs to be improved based on the recommendations by the Auditor General of South Africa.

The College Council throughout its oversight and corporate governance role is expected to be the pillar of strength in the college. Its responsibilities include determining the mission, objectives, goals, strategies and policies for the progress of the institution. As the College Council, we remain fully committed to ensuring that Taletso conducts its business according to the highest ethical standards and principles of good governance. We continue to ensure that

sound governance practices that promote accountability, transparency, ethical conduct, fairness, responsibility and social development are entrenched throughout the business.

It was a great pleasure to host our second in-person graduation ceremony in May 2022 since the advent of the Covid -19 pandemic. There is a special sense of having defeated the odds. Graduation is always a time of jubilation, where we not only celebrate over and recognize the hard work and tenacity of our graduates, but we also congratulate our academics, support staff and supportive families who all play a pivotal role behind the scene in the success of the graduating cohort. Our warmest congratulations to those who have graduated for keeping the African light shining brightly through academic excellence.

To maintain the growth of the college, it is vital that healthy, strategic and collaborative partnerships that work to create opportunities for students to gain access to experiential learning and equip lecturers with relevant skills be strengthened and explored further.

South Africa will be celebrating Women’s Month in August. S.A has come a long way since 20 000 women marched to Union Building on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of the Pass Laws. A system meant to control women even further and reduce them to passive beings, at the mercy of men. We will celebrate this year’s Women Month under the theme “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”. The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign and links South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Women’s Month is a tribute not only to the thousands of women who marched on that day in 1956 but also to those who paved the way for the women’s movement in our country, dating back to 1913 when women like Charlotte Maxeke inspired women to join the battle for freedom.

As we celebrate women’s month let us also remember Advocate A.B Mutele- a College Council member who passed on in August 2021. Advocate Mutele always had a positive view of Taletso, trying to find solutions to challenges. She will be remembered by the Taletso community for serving the College with dedication and commitment. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family and all who will miss her.

Executive Appointments

Mr MZ Nkomo was appointed Acting Principal effective September 2021, He took the baton from Mr S ‘Mabathoana as he retired end of August 2021. Mr Nkomo brings with him a perfect fit for an environment where collaboration and innovation are drivers of change and we look forward to reimagining the future with him. Another executive appointment includes Mr M.G Pheko who took office on 1 December 2021 as Deputy Principal Corporate Services. I trust that your visionary leadership will be evident in these portfolios.

DHET member and official, Ms Nozipho Khumalo (Pictured on the right) urged that SRC leaders should not be putting their issues in front but those of the students first. They took an oath to represent each student in all aspects of their academic and college social issues. 

The Department of Higher Education and Training has developed the National Guideline for Academic Support for TVET Colleges, this document was drafted to assist colleges and students to design suitable programmes to improve student academic support.

The government has invested in the TVET sector in the effort to provide access to previously excluded but in its efforts, students must academically perform. 

All 50 TVET Colleges should create conducive environments for teaching and learning. Student academic support is also the responsibility of student leaders. Academic support’s purpose is to improve underperforming students and also ensure students are equipped with study skills and motivated to pass their studies. 

The academic requirements of being a student leader are 7/7 subjects in NCV and 4/4 subjects in NATED. This requirement is ensuring that student leaders should be examples and also show that they are responsible for their learning process. Student leaders must take control of their learning by using time management and study skills. Ensure they create study timetables, communicate with their lecturers and also attend peer tutoring sessions. They must also assist the campus and college to develop student-centred and informative academic support interventions. 

The Taletso TVET College SRC watched a video on what is a school system “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Ms Khumalo shared that this quote is frequently attributed to Einstein. She engaged with the audience by asking them what they have heard and learnt from the video. She then shared the effects and effects of education in the present and future world, what is the role and expectations of students and institutions in the future, or has the system changed or has remained stagnated. The need for change to accommodate all students and be ready for the future world or world of work. Education’s purpose is to change the lives and skills of an individual and a country. The use of technology and innovation must be encouraged. She reminded students that they are an important catalyst in their learning by sharing their needs, and new ideas to promote student motivation, innovation and social inclusion in the college or the classroom. 

Leadership appointed seats in Academic boards or any key positions their voices must be heard and advocate for better teaching and learning environments such as PQM that reflects the economy, resourced workshops and simulations rooms, assistive devices and textbooks or research resources. To also participate in improving curriculums, influence modern teaching and learning and take control of their learning. They were reminded they are students first and of the importance of their education and to graduate.

The student leaders in the workshop were challenged to critique and look at more models in learning styles. To understand that students are different or some may have learning barriers or disabilities which hinder learning and how to assist in identifying their academic challenges. As students on campuses, they should have knowledge on which programmes are available and which interventions, such as examination analysis, which subjects are high or low performing, which levels or programmes are low performing or improving or need attention, classroom referral systems, self-study, peer tutoring, use of Learner Management Systems, examination preparation and study skills etc. Student leadership to develop academic support programmes of actions on how they will assist in improving the student body’s academic performance.

 

Ms Khumalo reiterated that All students who registered in an academic year should progress to the next level of study and exit in record time.