QONCE- The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) has committed R90 Million towards the development of Community Education and Training (CET) colleges across South Africa in a bid to strengthen adult literacy, skills development and access to learning opportunities.
The funding commitment was formally handed over during the launch of the National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign 2026–2030 at Lovedale TVET College on Tuesday.
The campaign, led by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Mimmy Gondwe aims to reach one million adult learners by 2030.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Gondwe said CET colleges played a critical role in lifelong learning and providing second-chance education opportunities.
“If we are serious about repositioning CET Colleges as centres of lifelong learning and community renewal, then we must also be serious about investing in the conditions that will allow proper teaching and learning to flourish in our CET Colleges,” she said.
The R90M commitment was first announced earlier this week by Services SETA administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga during the unveiling of a R5M infrastructure upgrade project at the Mlandeleni Community Learning Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
Under the latest intervention, each province will receive R10m to support CET growth, infrastructure upgrades and the expansion of learning programmes.
Representing Services SETA at Tuesday’s event, Thembinkosi Mosia said the funding would help improve both the quality and perception of CET education.
“Services SETA has committed R90 million towards CET development to drive change in the agenda, perception and quality of education at CETs,” said Mosia.
He added that the intervention formed part of the organisation’s broader mandate to support skills development, economic growth, youth empowerment and rural and township development.
Mosia said CET colleges deserved greater recognition and support as institutions capable of transforming communities through education and skills training.
South Africa currently has an estimated 3.8 million functionally illiterate adults, according to the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign seeks to address this challenge through programmes focusing on literacy, numeracy, digital skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and civic education.
The campaign will target rural, mining and marginalised communities where access to education and training opportunities remains limited.Services SETA said the funding would be used for needs-based improvements at CET colleges, including classrooms, workshops, ICT facilities, digital learning infrastructure, refurbished buildings and learner support services.
Tuesday’s handover marked the start of implementation of the initiative across all nine provinces.
Photographs: Facebook/DHET
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