INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
BUSINESS AND TRAINING
Training ), are equipped with relevant and transferable competencies to enhance lifelong employability .
WIN-WIN FOR BUSINESSES AND LABOUR MARKET Ultimately the QCTO is intended to replace the Sector Education and Training Authority ( SETA ), while closing the gap whereby individuals in the labour market have the skills but lack the formal certifications or paperwork necessary to find employment or to maximise earning potential . While higher-level qualifications are essential , it is also necessary to address the immediate gap that stands between an individual coming out of school and becoming eligible to embark on the national qualification process .
To this end the QCTO has implemented skills programmes , effectively a shorter skills syllabus , at the end of which a learner can gain entry into a qualification or a part-time qualification . This also has the immediate benefit of making the individual more employable .
In addition to increasing and keeping their own skills in-house , businesses can contribute to the career development of their people – which provides a greater level of motivation and incentive . Skills development training also assists with reducing absenteeism where workers feel that the training they ’ re getting is valuable to their personal growth , contributing to a more committed workforce .
Where companies offer skills development opportunities , it becomes possible to redirect budget spend previously used for recruitment into training , shifting the focus to retention instead of acquisition .
THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE QCTO – HOW DOES IT WORK ? As mentioned , the QCTO is responsible for the accreditation of Skills Development Providers ( SDPs ), authorising them to facilitate programmes and qualifications that fall under the OQSF . These include occupational qualifications including ‘ old ’ trades , N4-N6 Programmes , historically registered qualifications , and the shorter bridging skills programmes .
Any SDP offering training or intending to offer training in any of these must seek accreditation from the QCTO and must comply with the entity ’ s minimum criteria .
OUT WITH SETA , IN WITH QCTO From June 2023 , SETA accreditation will be subject to a teach-out period , after which qualifications and skills programmes will need to be aligned with
QCTO . This is a valuable opportunity for training providers to align their offerings to the QCTO accreditation standards , as that is the direction in which we are headed . It will be necessary to work hand-in-hand with industry leaders in developing learning material to ensure that the necessary knowledge is combined with practical experience , hands-on learning opportunities and assessments .
Additionally , a major focus of these skills development and training programmes will be ensuring that learners are placed at companies where they can gain experience and skills in the workplace and ultimately take up employment after assessment and qualification . The output from SDPs will be assessed by Assessment Quality Partners ( AQPs ), and it is the responsibility of the Assessment Quality Partner to sign off on the provider issuing a statement of result to the learner which gives them entry to the integrated summative assessment for certification .
SMARTER APPROACH TO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT For companies to maximise this opportunity , both from a tax rebate and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ( B-BBEE ) scoring perspective , they will need to ensure that they coordinate training initiatives with SDPs that are accredited by the QCTO . SDPs will need to modernise their curriculum to be more learnerfocused , while forming relationships with assessment quality partners .
In order to exit learners smoothly , organisations will need to prepare their workplaces so that they are compliant with QCTO requirements , developing the necessary mentoring infrastructure to enable those placements while giving learners the best possible support . In shifting the focus from generic skills training to inclusive learner development and facilitation through the QCTO framework , it becomes much easier to address South Africa ’ s skills shortage effectively and sustainably . CLA
Practical skills are urgently needed in the labour market and there should be an increased focus on training artisans .
ONE CONSOLIDATED VOICE FOR THE REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY .
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