Community Colleges Establishment for Post-School Education and Improving Training in the Vicinity of South African Communities

According to the findings of 2011 South African Census Survey, it was revealed that over 30million people between the ages of 18-24 years are not in employment or in education nor training. Of the 30million, about 15,918,454 people are aged from 20 years and above and never had they completed the standard Grade 12 required at the entrance of the tertiary educational level; this cohort represents 60% of the population of the 30million. The current education and training system does not offer sufficient avenues for the youth and adults seeking education and skills acquisition opportunities; deep-seated inequalities still exist. The country is faced with shortages of skills for the economy, low levels of access and equity, poor quality, high repetition and dropout rates, low graduation rates, weak links between the education and the work environment, and insufficient employer involvement in training. A global reflection in establishing Community College movement in community vicinities to advance and improve the post-school education aiming to the equal education opportunities to all, were discussed. Global arguments to sustain the intervention to establish Community Colleges models as built in the U.S. and India were evoked and characteristics outlined. This paper outlines the legislation, structure and mechanisms, opportunities, challenges and limitations of the actual South African education system, and the opportunity and the need of a community College movement in the South African society. Potential route to community colleges establishment as project with purpose and contribution delivery, are suggested.