By Matsobane Manaka and Maphari Machaka
Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture (TSCA) has hosted the seventh graduation ceremony to acknowledge students who completed their National Certificate in Agriculture (NQF 1 – 4) and their Diploma programme in both animal and plant production on 03 May 2024 at Bolivia Lodge.
From the cohort of 2021, there was a noticeable increase of graduates obtaining distinctions, an indication of commitment between college management and students. Francina Malope has bagged a cum laude in a Diploma in Animal Production while the other four, Bafentswe Boshielo, Mosima Kgothatso Makgafela, Latoye Paballo Mokwena and Letsoba Mphahlele outshone their fellow students in Plant Production. Letsoba Mphahlele has walked away with an overall performer carrying two trophies.
Successful students will be placed under the Unemployed Graduate Programme. They will then later be deployed at established entities to get more insightful knowledge and hands-on into farming operations in line with their respective study. The move aims to shape graduates to become creators of employment than being job seekers.
In his keynote address, MEC responsible for Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) Thabo Mokone said, “We want you to be creators of jobs, not the other way round. Go to your chief and Councilor where you can have land and start doing things for yourself”. MEC explained that in line with BRICS agreement, they want avocado, red meat, goat meat. Think about how you can change the lives of our people.
TSCA is the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA) excellence award winner in the category of “Leading Public Service provider: Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges”. The award was in recognition for excellence in implementation of funded projects in contribution to the skills base to the Agricultural Sector.
According to the college principal, Majela Mashiloane, “the college had produced over 500 graduates since the official opening. Most of these graduates are current farmers, farm workers and research station farm aides who have experience which was assessed against this qualification in a process known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)”.
The qualification offered by the college is fully accredited by Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA), who partnered with the LDARD for over a period of years involving agricultural education and training programmes including funding, capacity building and bursaries to students.
The qualification assists candidate to get credit, access, inclusion or advancement in the formal education and training system or workplace.
