The DBE successfully hosted a five-day vocational and occupational workshop at the Resolution Circle, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, from 26 to 30 January 2026. The programme brought together committed and passionate teachers for an intensive, hands-on learning experience aimed at strengthening technical skills, professional confidence, and classroom impact on vocational and occupational subjects.
Over the course of the five days, teachers actively engaged in practical training across key trades such as electricity, plumbing, bricklaying, panel beating, and spray painting. These sessions placed educators in real working environments, allowing them to use tools, handle materials, and apply skills in ways that moved learning beyond theory into meaningful practice. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged peer learning, boosted confidence, and equipped teachers with competencies that can be immediately transferred into their classrooms, whilst preparing learners for real world opportunities.
In his opening remarks, Mr Perumal Padayachee, Chief Education Specialist for General Education and Training, emphasized the importance of a paradigm shift towards vocational and occupational education. He highlighted that this shift is critical in responding to the changing needs of learners, communities, and the economy, ensuring that education remains relevant, inclusive, and empowering.
Sharing insights on the programme, Mr Paseka Sedutla, a Subject Advisor and workshop facilitator, reflected positively on the quality and relevance of the training. He noted that the programme successfully re-skilled teachers in new trades whilst aligning their competencies with current industry demands. He stressed that such initiatives are essential in keeping educators responsive to the evolving world of work.
Providing strategic context, Mr Sello Mabathoana, Project Manager for the DBE Three Stream Model, explained that the training was purposefully designed to capacitate teachers with industry aligned skills. He praised the high levels of engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment demonstrated by participants, adding that the programme significantly strengthened both technical expertise and professional confidence.
The impact of the workshop was further reinforced by Mr Corrie Smit, Chief Executive Officer, who commended the Department of Basic Education for this successful pilot initiative. He emphasized the need for replication across provinces, highlighting the growing national and global demand for skilled artisans.
Ms Desiree Letshwiti, Chief Education Specialist for Electrical and Mechanical subjects, provided valuable background on both the Occupational and Vocational oriented streams and clarified the misconception that these subjects were only engineering aligned, but that since the inception of the teacher and subject advisors training in 2023, 1,100 teachers have been trained in both the Occupational and Vocational subjects within the engineering and manufacturing technology organizing field and with training conducted in the Gauteng province, and that the last phase of the training will be conducted for the Free State and the Limpopo provinces. In her closing statement, she highlighted how Katlehong School of Specialization was an example model of self-reliance and innovation as it was selling the projects that learners produce to increase their finances. She encouraged teachers to use their skills not only for teaching but also for entrepreneurship and community upliftment.
As the workshop concluded, one message stood firm. This was more than training; it was nation building. By investing in skills, innovation, and practical learning, the Department of Basic Education is shaping futures, restoring hope, and transforming lives. This is where the shift becomes action, where confidence replaces uncertainty, and where education truly empowers.