Training (FET) colleges' achiever awards winners
21 November 2007
Category: Support staff member of the year: General assistance and
maintenance
Johan Uys
South Cape College
George Campus
Tel: 044 874 2360
Respect and humour characterises Johan's relationships with colleagues,
educator staff and students. He is seen by everyone as the person with the most
positive attitude and for whom no task or project is too much for him. Johan
uses his own tools and equipment on a regular basis to do maintenance tasks at
the campus. He initiated the adaptation of the George campus to make it
accessible for wheelchairs as well as the installation of a high-tech security
system that has since been replicated at other campuses.
As the campus does not have an information technology (IT) technician, Johan
has taken it upon himself to repair cabling, computers and printers. His
practical fire drill demonstrations to students during orientation week have
become a real hit with much fun with foam and water. In answer to the training
needs of his staff, Johan developed and implemented short training courses in
plumbing and gardening.
Category: Support staff member of the year: Administration Tersia Pool
Boland College Caledon Campus
Tel: 028 212 3270
Tersia is in all respects a team player who gets on well with other staff
members and enjoys their support and co-operation in solving a variety of
problems, tackling challenges and doing everything possible in providing a
supporting and nurturing environment for staff and students. She successfully
manages to involve staff in student activities such potjiekos and Mr and Miss
Boland College competitions.
Tersia skilled herself in the software package that is used to compile the
campus college time table and regularly assists the academic head in drawing up
the timetable for lecturers at the Caledon Campus. In addition to all her other
duties she also manages the campus bookshop and serves as secretary of the
student support committee.
Category: Lecturer of the year â fundamental studies
Rogan Pedro
West Coast College
Vredendal Campus
Tel: 022 713 3167
Over the past year Rogan has taught N1-N3 and National Certificate
Vocational (NCV) mathematics and science. Rogan's ambition is to inculcate a
love for mathematics and science in his students. Fully aware of the
difficulties students have with abstract mathematical and scientific concepts,
Rogan takes real life practical scenarios and makes apparatus to demonstrate
difficult concepts such as how forces work calculation of volumes, energy
balances etc. He regularly downloads and implements new teaching methods from
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Learning Channel and makes
good use of the learning aids published by the Argus to improve the
mathematical and scientific skills and knowledge of his students.
Category: Lecturer of the year â utility and general studies
Catherine Conradie
South Cape College
George Campus
Tel: 044 874 2360
With her scintillating personality, her zest for life and passion for work
as hair care lecturer, Catherine Conradie inspires both students and staff. She
is tremendously dedicated and recently organised the first ever Hair care
Extravaganza Show at South Cape College which was a tremendous success. She
personally contacted local salons and suppliers for sponsorships and prizes for
the extravaganza.
In November 2006 she arranged for 12 students to be interviewed by the
Steiner shipping group and as a result nine of the students are currently
working on luxury sea liners off the American coast. At the end of 2006 100% of
her students were found competent according to Skills Education Training
Authorities (SETA) requirements and the retention rate was 98%. During 2007 the
number of students enrolled in the hair care programme has tripled.
Category: Lecturer of the year â business studies
Chaleen October
Boland College
Paarl Campus
Tel: 021 872 3323
The high priority that Chaleen October places on education and her
commitment to life long learning is evident when one notes her successful
completion of various entrepreneurship outcome based education, pastel and
payroll programmes. She has recently been certified as Pastel trainer by Pastel
and as result she is currently teaching computerised financial systems, a
subject that was until recently outside her field of training.
In 2006 Chaleen took a job in industry during her vacation so that she could
stay abreast with the latest developments and also to understand the needs of
industry in respect of knowledge and skills they require from their
employees.
Chaleen's positive attitude motivates and inspires her students to do their
best. She encourages them to do so by giving them prizes if they do well in
tests and examinations. As a result her students achieved a 100% pass rate
during the 2006 examinations with a 70% average.
Category: lecturer of the year â engineering studies
Frans Jooste
Boland College
Worcester Campus
Tel: 023 342 5760
Frans Jooste's dedicated involvement in education spans almost 22 years and
his achievements both inside and outside the classroom reflect his invaluable
contributions to the FET College sector. Frans has established good relations
with industry and companies regularly contact him to source quality
employees.
When Frans identifies a need in the education sector little can stop him in
his quest to address. An example of his drive is the zeal and devotion with
which he collaborated with the Merseta over a period of two years to obtain a
certificate of accreditation for the workshops at the Worcester campus. Frans
is a teacher par excellence and the results of his students reflect this during
the past three examinations his students achieved pass rates of 72%, 83% and
100%.
Category: Excellence in leadership
Ebrahim Peters
Northlink College
Bellville Campus
Tel: 021 951 2231
Ebrahim Peters leads all modes of academic delivery at Northlink College.
Through wide reading, research and consultation he is a valuable resource that
many tap into for support and guidance. Under Ebrahim's leadership part-time
delivery has increased by 80% at all engineering campuses. He was also one of
the first to establish decentralised trade testing at the Bellville Campus.
Ebrahim identified a niche in Computer Numeric Control (CNC) and through his
efforts the first industrial CNC training facility in the Western Cape was
established at the Bellville campus. Ebrahim is a skilful negotiator who leads
many college initiatives. Recently he played a leading role in establishing
partnerships with industry including the Western Cape Tooling initiative, South
Birmingham College, South African Auto Repair and Salvage and SAAB
(Sweden).
In preparing for the implementation of the new NCV programmes, Ebrahim
developed an excellent plan for the delivery of the new programmes, which
resulted in many managers from colleges nationally seeking guidance from him.
Ebrahin encourages local community forums to make use of the facilities of
Northlink colleges and acts as a resource for two community base organisations
namely, Helderberg youth academy and Vukani Bantu in Langa and is frequently
called upon to provide career guidance and advice to the disadvantaged
youth.
Category: Life time achievement
The late Jan Bester
C/o Lynette Steenkamp
College of Cape Town
City Campus
Tel: 021 462 2053
The late Jan Bester's career in the teaching profession started in
1969 and he retired as Senior Deputy Principal in 2004. However his love for
teaching was so great that he returned to teach Maths literacy at College of
Cape Town. Jan Bester was a mentor to many including Prof John Volmink,
Chairperson of Umalusi and Mr Leaon Beech, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Northlink College. In his quiet and unassuming manner he empowered them to move
on and achieve their goals. Jan Bester played a leading role in curriculum and
learning material development in the FET College sector over a period of 22
years.
He served on the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) committee that
was responsible for the development of the maths literacy unit standards and
has also written a maths literacy textbook. Jan also served as examiner and
moderator for nated subjects for many years. Over the years Jan developed a
renowned reputation in the college sector and was highly respected locally,
nationally and abroad.
He single headedly managed the Canadian COTEC project and made sure that the
numerous benefits achieved were shared by all the colleges in the Western Cape.
Jan Bester's sudden demise at the age of 67 has left a great void in the FET
College sector and he will be fondly remembered by the FET College
community.
Category: Manager of the year â support services
Esna Barnard
West Coast College
Vredendal Campus
Tel: 027 213 5674
As Campus Manager of the Vredendal Campus, Esna Barnard inspires her staff
by always being the first to volunteer for a task and her open door policy. As
a result of Esna's superb organisational and management skills a run down
school hostel was transformed into a modern campus with well equipped
classrooms and workshops. In achieving this Esna had to overcome disgruntled
residents, angry politicians and a sensation press.
Esna regularly attends the local Chamber of Commerce meetings which assists
her in placing her students with local industries. Under Esna's guidance the
campus has introduced a transport and feeding scheme for students from the
disadvantaged communities. Despite her onerous responsibilities as campus
manager, Esna also lectures maths and maths literacy thus ensuring that her
lecturing staff are not overloaded. Esna initiated the establishment of an open
learning centre and internet café at the Vredendal access and the local
communities can now access computer and internet facilities in the evenings and
over weekends.
Category: Manager of the year â academic
Pat Lawrence
Northlink College
Belhar Campus
Tel: 021 952 2113
As Head of Department: Electrical Pat Lawrence manages all heavy and light
current programme delivery at three campuses. To ensure that Northlink is able
to satisfy the needs of industry and students Pat initiated the implementation
of new programmes such as Mechatronics covering Programme Logic Control,
process control and domestic automation systems. By regularly visiting campuses
Pat is able to provide guidance and support to lecturers thereby ensuring that
quality delivery takes place.
In addition to his normal duties Pat also acts as campus liaison officer for
PLATO in order to help students improve their language and mathematical skills.
As a result of Pat's persistence and single mindedness in achieving his goal
Northlink College received accreditation from the Energy Sector Education and
Training Authority (ESETA) to offer Level one and two electrical training.
Pat has also successfully applied to the MERSETA training and trade test
accreditation. Pat was instrumental in organising the appearance of a student
on prime time television on SABC 1 thereby gaining valuable exposure for
Northlink and the FET college sector.
For enquiries:
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
21 November 2007
