Nzimande also noted an increase in the number of enrolments at FET Colleges. In 2011, the projected headcount enrolment was 359 000 in all programmes, but 437 060 enrolled exceeding the department's projection by 24 percent. This year, the department is expecting a further increase in enrolments to 550 000.

He attributed this to bursaries amounting to 100 percent of fees for all those with a family income of under R 122 000 per annum and 165 273 bursaries awarded to students in 2011.

"Another reason is that the Career Advice campaign we launched together with SAQA and the SABC has started to have an effect. The radio campaign, in all nine African Languages and including Afrikaans, is estimated to have reached over 2 million listeners."

An amount of R15-billion has been set aside for over the three-year MTEF period starting in 2012/13 to ensure increased enrolments in FET colleges.

Nzimande explained that the amount is about expansion as well as improvement of quality apart from the normal budget allocated to FET colleges.

Nzimande further announced that the department is completing an infrastructure audit; where infrastructure is in a state of disrepair it will be refurbished as part of the FET College Campus Refurbishment Programme.

Earlier this month, the President announced an amount of R2, 5 billion over the next three years from levy funds for infrastructure, machinery and programmes in FET Colleges.

'We have determined that in the short-term there is a need to build 12 new campuses attached to the existing FET Colleges. The Department has entered into negotiations with the Public Investment Corporation with a view to sourcing further funding for college infrastructure."

A comprehensive strategy has also been developed to ensure the smooth transfer of FET colleges from provincial to national competence once the FET Colleges Amendment Bill is signed by the President.