1. The average number of apprentices successfully completing training and becoming qualified artisans over the past four years from 2012/13 to 2015/16 is 15 000 qualified artisans. This average has to double to 30 000 qualified artisans by the year 2030.
The all-embracing strategy to reach this target is as follows:
- The capturing of artisan learner data has improved with the establishment of the National Artisan Development Support Centre at Ekurhuleni East Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College. With the use of this call centre facility, the Department is able to centrally collect, analyse and report on artisan registration and completion rates from Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and INDLELA.
- The artisan learner grant has been standardised to R150 000 per artisan learner across all SETAs with effect from 1 April 2016. Previously this grant was differentiated and did not fully serve artisan training, and was increased from R139 350 to R150 000.
- The Department is developing a dual system of apprenticeship training with the assistance from German and Swiss authorities, which will assist in standardising the trade curriculum content, and improve monitoring and evaluation of what artisans are trained in, based on the Trade and Occupations Qualifications developed by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The deployment of the dual apprenticeship training system to all accredited training centres is earmarked for 1 April 2018.
- INDLELA, which serves as the only public trade test centre in the country, is being improved through a recapitalisation project funded by SETAs. The project entails modernising trade testing equipment and workshops to meet present industrial standards. For the 2016/17 financial year, the Services SETA and Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA) have contributed a combined amount of R10 million, whilst other SETAs will contribute during the subsequent years.
- The “Decade of the Artisan” campaign, which was declared in 2014 after a successful “Year of the Artisan” campaign, is a successful public campaign visiting all provinces and engaging with learners and educators in schools to promote and encourage students to choose artisanship as a career. This campaign also engages employers and persuades them to open training spaces for apprentices in their workplaces.
- Presently, the Department is developing a Trade Test Improvement Strategy aimed at improving both the quality and throughput of artisan training. Public comments have been received and the Department is working towards finalising the strategy for implementation on 1 April 2018.
- The Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) pilot has been completed. This pilot was aimed at empowering assistant artisans who previously did not have any formal qualifications as artisans. The ARPL guideline being compiled will serve as a formal instrument to evaluate the experience of assistant artisans and will be available to all training sectors by 1 April 2018.
- There are other comprehensive interventions on artisan quality assurance, audit, accreditation of training centres, and registration of assessors and moderators, which is performed through the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB).
2. TVET colleges do have the capacity to provide theoretical training for the required number of artisans. However, it must be noted that artisan training does not rely on colleges alone, but more importantly on the workplace-learning component. The number of workplaces that needs to be secured is therefore critical to meet these numbers.
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
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DIRECTOR – GENERAL
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QUESTION 1232 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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