<![CDATA[South Africa continues to contend with persistently high levels of unemployment, youth unemployment, and poverty, as well as a mismatch between the competencies produced by the education system and the skills demanded by industry. Within this context, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector has emerged as a strategic vehicle for developing occupationally relevant skills that support economic growth, industrial development, and social inclusion. Despite its growing policy prominence, the role of the TVET sector remains poorly understood and is often overshadowed by misconceptions regarding its status, quality, and contribution to national development. This article sought to demystify the role of the South African TVET sector in skills development by critically examining TVET college lecturers' and students' perceptions. A purposive sample of 8 TVET college lecturers and 30 students was conveniently selected. Drawing on a comprehensive and constructive understanding of the views from face-to-face and focus group discussions (FDGs) with the participants, a deeper understanding of their misconceptions was gained. Findings revealed that many see the sector as a last resort when one fails to enter the University sector. This was due to policy gaps between what the higher education department says and what the industry expects. The recommendations call for the active availability of all stakeholders to ensure that the sector is well cared for.]]>
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