The implementation of the occupational learning system as contemplated in the Skills Development Act 1998, as amended, continues to gain momentum. Today, 30 November 2010, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr BE Nzimande, is holding a roundtable discussion with leaders of business to discuss a partnership between government and business that will work on increasing the quantity and quality of artisans.
The objectives of this roundtable discussion are to:
- afford the minister an opportunity to share his vision, plans and intentions with regard to the production of artisans with business
- seek advice, inputs, proposals and commitment from business
- solicit commitment and partnership on the implementation of the training of artisans
We are moving towards implementing a simple, single approach apprenticeship based artisan development system in the country as opposed to the current SETA/sector driven process that has resulted in a variety of confusing approaches to artisan development.
The current programme of training artisans, although comprehensive in that it represents all sectors of the economy, is not centrally coordinated with a monitoring and reporting system at occupational level (i.e. by trade) and there is no coordinated approach to monitoring and reporting between the FET College Sector and the SETA System.
Furthermore there is no single national standard nor is there national moderation of the SETA quality assurance strategies. Consequently, the competencies of apprentices produced by this disparate system could differ significantly even within the exact same trade, in other instances The integration of FET and Skills Development infrastructure under the Department of Higher Education and Training will address the challenges of the current fragmented system. It will also enable the department to coordinate the various incentives available to industry to ensure the efficient use of these and better improved outcomes, i.e. align investment incentives with skills development imperatives, simplify the Tax Allowance for the unemployed, use National Skills Fund as a catalytic fund focused on critical areas of development, including the training of artisans, etc.
The department is committed to review the theoretical component provided in the FET colleges to ensure that it is relevant, of acceptable quality and standard. This includes the regular update of the assessment material and programmes. It is also committed to improve the qualitative elements of the artisan development system in South Africa to ensure that those exiting their programmes are competent. A major initiative in this regard is to improve the success rate through improved curriculum development, improved training expertise and greater learner support.
To increase the number of artisans in the country will require a collective effort by all the stakeholders.
This roundtable discussion is a call for a partnership with stakeholders, in particular industry to:
- Work much closer with FET Colleges to grow and fund the capacity and infrastructure needs of the FET Colleges to deliver the knowledge component of the artisan programme
- Open more workplace opportunities for artisan learners including increasing the number of workplace mentors or journeymen to support artisan learners, even possibly agreeing to allow retired qualified tradesmen to return to the work place to become mentors for artisan learners
- Provide support to improve curriculum development, governance, management, teacher support and learner support. Industry can play a significant role in providing mentorship to management at colleges; participate in curriculum development, supporting teaching through opening learning opportunities for teaching staff of colleges, etc.
- Increase the number and capacity of accredited artisan training centers, especially in rural areas where no such centers exist; be creative about how to provide training and learning opportunities and link with FET colleges in these areas
Accordingly, the minister is launching the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) on the day of the Ministerial Roundtable on Artisan Training. The NAMB will be legally established by a government notice still to be issued by the Minister. It will be located at Institute for the National Development of Learnerships, Employment Skills and Labour Assessments (INDLELA), within the Department of Higher Education and Training, in order to leverage the existing state resources and artisan development experience. It will coordinate artisan development in the country as contemplated in Section 26A (2) of the Skills Development Act. It will address the qualitative challenges of the national system.
This significant step in the coordination and quality assurance in artisan development in the country is further endorsement of the commitment by the minister and his department to ensuring that artisan development remains at the forefront of skills development in South Africa.
Together with stakeholders, in particular business, we will work on a specific, logical and sequenced process steps to becoming an artisans. These steps are well known in the global artisan development community but have been lost sight of in South Africa. The National Seven Step Programme to becoming a Qualified Artisan are:
1. Career guidance to secondary school learners and/or post school unemployed persons on being an Artisan.
2. Development and delivery of the theory (knowledge) component of an artisan qualification, and in South Africa in particular the NATED N1 and N2 Certificate.
3. Learner selection, recruitment, contracting and registration onto formal learning programme agreements linked to SETAs and Quality Assurance / Certification partners.
4. Development and delivery of the practical (skills) component of an artisan qualification. 5. Development and delivery of the work place (applied theory and skills) component of an artisan qualification.
6. Phase Testing (formative assessment), Screening (trade test preparation) and Trade Testing (final summative assessment). This will include provisions for Recognition of Prior Learning from start to finish of the process.
7. Quality Assurance of Learning, Recognition of Learner Achievement, Moderation and Certification.
This is a critical intervention in realising the objectives of the new growth path.
For further enquiries:
Mr Moloantoa Molaba (Spokesperson)
Tel: 012 312 5555
Cell: 078 726 6312
E-mail: Molaba.m@dhet.gov.za
