Hello beautiful February
Materials! SMEs! Site visits!
2026 is surely the year of QCTO implementation……now is the time to make your new QCTO programmes work!
We have a range of products and services to assist you to do just that. Whether it’s a few consulting hours to check your submission and prepare you for site visit, or our “Assessing in the QCTO environment” webinar to bring your team up to speed with the new QCTO processes, or our QCTO Friday Titbit so you know first-hand when new programmes are registered on the QCTO website, or our QCTO-compliant LMS to support your hybrid delivery…as always, Thrive has got you covered. You aren’t alone.
Reach out today to see how we can streamline, capacitate and support you through this transition phase.
Yours in skills,
Andrea
QCTO & SETA NEWS
QCTO: South Africa hosted a strategic education delegation from Gambia, from January 24 to February 4, 2026, involving the QCTO, DHET, TVET colleges, Setas and SAQA in high-level discussions on skills, research and innovation partnership. Read more here.
QCTO: released their latest newsletter, with highlights from the past year, including their Capacity Building Workshops, profiles of some of their QCTO-accredited SDPs and much more. Read it here.
QCTO: Upcoming QCTO External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) dates and registration closing dates have been published for several Seta AQPs for 2026 sessions. Check scheduling here.
DHET: has rolled out the Central Application Service (CAS) for post-school placements in 2026, replacing the interim system and aiming to improve access, visibility and protection against bogus institutions. Read more here.
DHET: Deputy Minister Dr Mimmy Gondwe has completed State of Readiness visits to North-West University and Vuselela TVET College, focusing on registration, NSFAS funding, accommodation, and operational readiness for 2026. The visits form part of DHET’s national readiness programme and continue in the Free State. Read more here.
QCTO: The official 2026 list of public TVET colleges accredited for QCTO Occupational Qualifications is now live on the DHET website. Here is the link: https://shorturl.at/z2fj4
QCTO: The QCTO together with the NQF family, recently took part in the NQF to the People Blitz Campaign at the Marabastad Taxi Rank in Pretoria. They engaged directly with learners, parents, and the public on accredited TVET Colleges and Skills Development Providers. Read more here
SERVICES SETA: has issued an official public notice confirming the termination and cancellation of all prescribed and lapsed Discretionary Grant project claims linked to legacy projects from 2014 to 2022, following a legal and financial review. Read more here.
APPETD: Thrive recently took part in an APPETD online workshop titled “Meeting Compliance and Accreditation Standards: A Comprehensive Guide for 2026,” continuing the quest to share clear and accurate QCTO compliance information. Have you considered joining APPETD?
OPEN DISCRETIONARY GRANT WINDOWS
SERVICES SETA window, closing 13 February 2026
The Services Seta has opened its Special Projects proposal window for the 2026/27 funding cycle, inviting eligible organisations to submit initiatives that support skills development and inclusive growth. For more information and to apply, click here.
MICT SETA window, closing 16 February 2026
MICT Seta has opened a Discretionary Grant funding window for eligible cooperatives operating within the MICT sub-sectors. The funding supports learning interventions linked to scarce and critical skills, enterprise development, and workplace placement for unemployed learners across all provinces. For more information and to apply, click here.
HW SETA window, closing 20 February 2026
HW Seta has opened an Expression of Interest for funding for the 2026/2027 financial year. The call covers a wide range of learning interventions, including bursaries, work integrated learning, internships, learnerships, skills programmes, artisan development, and training for persons with disabilities, employed and unemployed learners, and trade union members. For more information and to apply, click here.
PSETA window, closing 02 March 2026
The PSeta has opened its Discretionary Grant window for the 2026–2027 financial year. The funding targets accredited skills development providers delivering QCTO-aligned learnerships, skills programmes, and Recognition of Prior Learning interventions for public service officials. For more information and to apply, click here.
FASSET ending March 2026
FASSET has reopened its Lifelong Learning online training in partnership with professional bodies. The programme runs until March 2026 and focuses on workplace-relevant skills, including Artificial Intelligence and strengthening internal audit functions. For more information click **************@********rg.za“>here.
Assessing in the QCTO environment does not need to feel overwhelming.
This one day online workshop gives you clear, practical guidance so you assess with confidence and know exactly what the QCTO expects.
LMS Live Demos. Every Friday!
See the Thrive Rekindle EpiTek LMS in action before you commit. Join our live LMS demos every Friday from 10am to 11am and experience how QCTO delivery works in real time.
WHOOP WHOOPS
Congratulations to the following organisation for achieving their QCTO accreditations with us and well done to our super-duper, enthusiastic and energetic accreditation partners:
- SAFETI: SP: Pothole Repair Person. Thank you to our accreditation partner Handri Stadler.
- Finance Hat Consulting Group: SP: Technopreneur. Thank you to our accreditation partner Handri Stadler.
- Nudle: OC: Software Developer. Thank you to our accreditation partner Alida van Heerden.
- Powerpoint Lifestyles: OC: Grain Grader. Thank you to our accreditation partner Handri Stadler.
- StrucMAC Structural: OC: Store Person.Thank you to our accreditation partner Alida van Heerden.
- New Beginnings Business Solutions: SP: New Venture Creation. Thank you to our accreditation partner Alida van Heerden.
- Accelerate Management School: OC: Occupational Health and Safety Assistant. Thank you to our accreditation partner Alida van Heerden.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: join Thrive Community…a just-in-time, day-by-day account of the QCTO and Seta goings-on. Full of titbits, info, insights and offers….link here:
