The Free State Education Department is expanding technical subjects at public schools as it tries to give more pupils a direct route into artisan work and further training.
Education MEC Dr Mamiki Maboya said the number of schools offering technical subjects had grown from 32 to more than 50. The programme includes practical fields such as plumbing, which the department says can prepare young people for work needed by municipalities and private employers.
The expansion comes as South Africa continues to face a shortage of qualified artisans in several trades. Technical education gives pupils the option of leaving school with practical exposure before moving into apprenticeships, colleges or workplace training.
Maboya said the provincial government wanted to strengthen technical education because not every learner follows an academic route after matric. She linked plumbing training to the need for municipalities to repair leaks and reduce water losses.
The department has not provided a full breakdown of the additional schools, enrolment numbers or the funding attached to the expansion. Those details will determine how widely the programme reaches learners across the province.
Technical subjects require workshops, equipment and teachers with specialist skills. Schools also need links with employers and training bodies if classroom learning is to lead to recognised qualifications and work placements.
The Free State initiative adds to national efforts to expand vocational education while South Africa works to reduce youth unemployment. The immediate change is an increase in the number of schools offering technical subjects, with the department presenting artisan training as a practical pathway for learners.
