The Klerksdorp campus of Vuselela FET College in the North West bustles with students hurrying to and from their exam centres. The students have a choice of six study sections offered at the college, including business studies, computer training, engineering studies, the Grade 12 national certificate and hair care. It is also the only training centre for boiler making, millwright, fitting and turning, and electrical training.
Vuselela College was established as part of the Department of Education’s efforts to improve education delivery and bolster student numbers at Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. It was formed through the merging of the former Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Jouberton and Taung Colleges. More than 5 400 full-time and 2 800 part-time students enrolled at the Vuselela College’s four campuses in 2003.
Students on the Klerksdorp campus have nothing but praise for their school. ‘The teaching standards here are much better than at my previous high school,” says Krystle Hutchinson, a student in business studies, including subjects like public administration, information processing, computer practice and office practice. ‘It seems as if the teachers’ teaching skills are of a considerably higher standard than in ordinary government schools.”
Jason Potgieter agrees. ‘Although I used to be in a technical high school, my marks were poor and there were times when my parents worried if I would ever be able to pass Grade 12,” he says. ‘My Grade 12 course at Vuselela will enable me to eventually obtain a National Certificate in Engineering Studies. It’s a practical, as well as theoretical, course – so I’ll be certain of a job, either at a mine in the vicinity or even in the private sector.”
For Boitumela Mokuke from Potchefstroom, studying at Vuselela College was a dream come true. ‘I was extremely bored in my previous high school. I don’t think there was even one subject that really interested me,” she says. However, things changed when she enrolled in a business study course. ‘Now I enjoy coming to school. The subjects are interesting, the teachers have a knack of explaining things and I feel confident that I’m going to pass Grade 12 with flying colours. Even my parents think I’m clever now,” she adds.
‘I think the enjoyment of school also lies in the teachers’ attitudes. They’re really cool,” says Thandi Matsoso. ‘Their teaching methods are also just that much better and the classes are smaller as well. This ensures that each student receives individual attention, which helps you understand the work better.”
Mokuke adds, ‘Sometimes I think the classes are too small because there’s no place to hide if you haven’t done your work!”
The students all agree that the prospect of finding a job after graduating was one of the main reasons they enrolled at the college. ‘This is a really cool idea,” says Matsoso. ‘I’m writing Grade 12 this year, but next year I’m returning to further my qualifications. This means that next year I don’t have to go somewhere else to enhance my career prospects. I can just continue at the same school.”
The fact that there is also no school uniform is an added bonus. ‘It makes life just so much simpler,” says Mokuke. ‘And although the tuition is a lot better than I’ve become used to for eleven years, the course fees are also much cheaper, which makes the whole deal a real bargain.”