So, you've decided to apply to your local FET College? Congratulations! As a public FET College student, you can expect to gain both practical and theoretical knowledge, exposure to your chosen industry, as well as a meaningful qualification without paying the kind of money that will land you in student debt before the launch of your career.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Further Education and Training, answered by the Department of Education.

Q:How are the fundamental subjects in the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) different from the National Curriculum Statement for schools?
A: The overlap in the content for First Additional Language and Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is about 80%. This indicates a significant overlap and was intentionally designed in this way to ensure equivalence in cognitive demand and to promote mobility between the school National Senior Certificate and NCV college curriculum.

Q: Can the language in the NCV be any of the official languages?
A: Yes. All languages are included in the NCV policy document. The language chosen for the fundamental component must also be the language of learning and teaching.

Q: How does the NCV link to Seta programmes?
A: The NCV is not a unit standard-based qualification, but the content has been mapped against and assembled using unit standards. For this reason, much of the content in the vocational subjects overlaps with outcomes in unit standards.

Q: Will the Setas recognise subjects/ levels passed in the NCV?
A: The Setas will take a decision whether they will recognise subjects passed based on the learning outcomes contained in the corresponding Department of Education guidelines.

Q: If I fail a subject, will I have to repeat a full year?
A: Students do not have to repeat all subjects, but it will cost them a year. The student may repeat only the failed subject, but will not be allowed to proceed to the next level for any of the other subjects that were passed. Each level must be completed before proceeding to the next level.

Q: Do colleges still offer short courses?
A: Yes! This is encouraged for colleges to be regarded as responsive. However, these courses will not be funded by the Department of Education and will, therefore, have to be funded from other sources.

Q: Does the 200 hours allocated per subject refer to contact time?
A: This is a good indication of what the contact time should be. This allocation is based on the premise that there are 40 weeks in the academic year. This full-time academic year of study is inclusive of tuition and assessment.

Q: What will I be qualified to do after three years of study?
A: Students essentially have the following options:
• Access work opportunities in a work environment or a sector relevant to your vocational specialisation – for example, in a bank or insurance company after completing the Financial, Economics and Accounting programme.
• Access the workplace with the occupational specialisation you might have opted for through the fourth subject (such as Motor Mechanics after opting for Automotive repair and Maintenance).
• Decide to progress into higher education
• Pursue further training at a horizontal level
• Go into self-employment