WHEREAS it is desirable to—

ESTABLISH a national co-ordinated continuing education and training system which promotes co-operative governance and provides for programme-based vocational and occupational training;

RESTRUCTURE AND TRANSFORM programmes and colleges to respond better to the human resources, economic and development needs of the Republic;

REDRESS past discrimination and ensure representivity and equal access;

ENSURE access to basic adult education, further education and training and the workplace through continuing education and training by persons who have been marginalised in the past, such as women, the disabled and the disadvantaged;

PROVIDE optimal opportunities for learning, the creation of knowledge and the development of intermediate to high level skills in keeping with international standards of academe and technical quality;

PROMOTE the values which underlie an open and democratic society based on human dignity,  equality  and freedom;

ADVANCE strategic priorities determined by national policy objectives at all levels of governance and management within the continuing education and training sector;

RESPECT and encourage democracy and foster a collegial culture which promotes fundamental human rights and creates an appropriate environment for teaching and learning;

PURSUE excellence, and promote the full realisation of the potential of every student and member of staff, tolerance of ideas and appreciation of diversity;

RESPOND to the needs of the Republic, the labour market and the communities served by the colleges; and

COMPLEMENT the National Skills Development Strategy;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable for community education and training colleges and technical and vocational education and training colleges to perform specific functions by offering basic adult education and further education contemplated in section 29(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, within the context of public accountability and the national need for intermediate to high level skills and knowledge and to provide access to work and higher education,

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

[Preamble substituted by section 22 of Act No. 1 of 2013]