Training Artisans

September 2016

COLLEGE CONTRIBUTES TO THE VISION OF PRODUCING 30 000 ARTISANS BY 2030

On its mission of contributing to the National Development Plan’s mandate of producing 30 000 artisans by the year 2030, Ekurhuleni West TVET College has launched a programme to train ten of its NC(V) Level 4 graduates in the Fitting and Turning trade. The training is scheduled for a period between May 2016 and April 2018. The ten will join the twenty-one apprentice Electricians and Motor Mechanics in a merSETA funded apprenticeship. By producing Fitting and Turning artisans, the college will be aiding in reducing the scourge of skills shortage within the trade.

Students will spend a quarter of their twenty-four months training at the college for theoretical and practical lessons which will be followed by eighteen months at a merSETA accredited training centre for practical placements. Subsequent to passing trade tests, trainees will be certified as qualified artisans.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions (the College and the SETA), R 139,350.00 is committed to training each apprentice, inclusive of their stipends, as they will be placed at a company for industry experience.

Ekurhuleni West TVET College’s Business Unit manager, Gugu Mathews, said the Artisan Development Programme will capacitate participants in terms of increasing their competitiveness in the job market and business ventures.

"After the programme, apprentices will have improved their employability status and will be well equipped to follow an entrepreneurial path should they opt to start their own businesses. The college prides itself in having good working relationships with companies such as Scaw Metals, which had previously absorbed some of our students following a placement period," said Ms Mathews.

Motor Mechanic apprentices have already commenced their training in March this year, and are expected to conclude by February 2018. Just like Fitting and Turning, Electrical Engineering apprenticeships will also commence in May 2016. The total amount budgeted for the entire programme by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA is R 4,319,850.00.

A Fitting and Turning lecturer at Ekurhuleni West TVET College's Germiston campus, Siphiwe Maphisa, says the Fitting and Turning artisan development apprenticeships will focus on various components within the field. Components include amongst others maintenance of machinery, shafts, bolts and nuts.

Mr. Maphisa further indicated that the college will provide institutional training comprising of trade basics, safety and all start up training to pave the way for work place learning.

One of the cadet apprentices, Kefentse Maimane, says he is not bothered by not having a matric certificate as his level four qualification is its equivalent. The former John Orr Technical High School learner joined the College’s NC(V) programme with a grade ten report, as a prerequisite to entry is grade nine. Kefentse says the apprenticeship is a continuation of the curriculum offered during his studies. He also believes that after completing the apprenticeship, he will add to the number of skilled artisans in the country.

Ms Pearl Gamede, in the Fitting & Turning workshop.	Mr Kefentse Maimane believes technical qualifications are an option in eradicating South Africa’s skills shortage predicament.