What is a CET college in South Africa?
A Community Education and Training (CET) college is a DHET-funded public institution offering second chance education to adults and out of school youth. South Africa has 9 CET colleges (one per province) operating about 3 200 Community Learning Centres nationwide. They deliver Adult Education and Training (AET) Levels 1 to 4, the General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), plus skills programmes.
The 9 provincial CET colleges
South Africa is structured as one CET college per province. Each runs hundreds of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) and Satellite Learning Centres (SLCs) located inside schools, libraries and community halls.
Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape CET College
Head office: Zwelitsha
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Eastern Cape.
View Community Learning Centres →Free State
Free State CET College
Head office: Bloemfontein
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Free State.
View Community Learning Centres →Gauteng
Gauteng CET College
Head office: Johannesburg
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Gauteng.
View Community Learning Centres →KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal CET College
Head office: Pietermaritzburg
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across KwaZulu-Natal.
View Community Learning Centres →Limpopo
Limpopo CET College
Head office: Polokwane
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Limpopo.
View Community Learning Centres →Advertisement
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga CET College
Head office: Mbombela (Nelspruit)
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Mpumalanga.
View Community Learning Centres →North West
North West CET College
Head office: Mafikeng
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across North West.
View Community Learning Centres →Northern Cape
Northern Cape CET College
Head office: Kimberley
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Northern Cape.
View Community Learning Centres →Western Cape
Western Cape CET College
Head office: Cape Town
Delivers AET Levels 1-4, the GETC qualification and skills programmes through Community Learning Centres located across Western Cape.
View Community Learning Centres →Find your nearest Community Learning Centre via the DHET CET directory. The official Government Gazette also publishes an annual amended list of CLCs and SLCs by province.
What CET colleges offer
AET Levels 1 to 4
Adult Education and Training (formerly ABET) at NQF Levels 1-4. Designed to take learners from no formal education to the equivalent of Grade 9. Subjects include Language, Literacy and Communication, Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics, Life Orientation, plus academic or vocational electives.
General Education and Training Certificate (GETC)
120-credit NQF Level 1 qualification awarded after successful completion of AET Level 4. Equivalent to Grade 9. Opens further-study pathways including TVET college NCV and NATED programmes.
Skills programmes
Short, practical skills programmes in fields like sewing, hospitality, basic computer literacy and entrepreneurship. Often run in partnership with local SETAs.
Community-based delivery
Classes are usually run at Community Learning Centres (CLCs), often inside schools, libraries or community halls in the evenings or on weekends. This makes the programmes accessible to working learners and parents.
Frequently asked questions
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