Flavius Mareka TVET College

Flavius Mareka TVET College is a technical and vocational education and training college in the Free State. It was formed in 2000, when three older institutions were merged into one: Sasolburg Technical College, Kroonstad Technical College and Mphohadi College of Education. It is named after Flavius Mareka, who lived in Kroonstad. Its programmes are offered under the Department of Higher Education and Training, and its NATED programmes are quality assured by Umalusi.

Teaching happens in person, on campus. Learners attend lectures and practical sessions at the college, and some programmes add a workplace component, either with an employer or in a simulated workplace on campus. The college does not advertise distance or online study. Only registration is done online, through a student portal where applicants upload certified copies of their documents.

The college runs three campuses and a central office. Sasolburg Campus has two sites, one for Business Studies and one for Engineering Studies. Kroonstad Campus is in Kroonstad, and Mphohadi Campus is in Maokeng, Kroonstad. The central office is in Sasolburg.

Study is organised into two broad fields, Business Studies and Engineering Studies. The National Certificate (Vocational) is offered at NQF Levels 2, 3 and 4 in fields such as civil and electrical construction, engineering design, office administration, generic management, transport and logistics, education and development, and IT programming and robotics. NATED (Report 191) programmes run from N1 to N6 in engineering and from N4 to N6 in business subjects, including management, human resources, marketing, educare and farming management. An N6 Diploma in business studies combines theory with a period of workplace experience. The college also runs learnerships and skills programmes that mix classroom work with time in a workplace.

Entry depends on the level. Engineering N1 accepts a Grade 9 pass for part-time study or an unsuccessful Grade 12 for full-time study, while N4 programmes ask for a Grade 12 pass.

Students either pay their own fees or apply for an NSFAS bursary, which is means-tested and not guaranteed. Fees are published per programme on the college's own site, and payments are made by deposit to the college's bank account. NSFAS-funded students who progress to the next level do not need to reapply, but allowances can be withheld from students who fall below the required class attendance. Student support services cover career guidance, academic support, counselling, and help with work placement and starting a small business.