ASSOCIATIONS 13
Start them young !
By
Rory Macnamara
Plumbing Africa attended the inaugural meeting of the SASOL / IOPSA Schools ’ plumbing training meeting .
Plumbing Africa
Standing , from left to right : Daryl Gabbin , Rieger Park School ; Jaco Opperman , Khayelitsha School ; Banele Sibeko , Khayelitsha School ; Peter Arendse , Ooosrand Secondary school ; Nick Joubert , IOPSA ; and Raymond Tekana , Rieger Park School . Seated : Chantyl Mulder , SASOL Foundation ; Ms A Hutton , Ekurhuleni South District ; and Malebogo of IOPSA .
Chantyl Mulder of SASOL SCHOOLS started the meeting by emphasising the need to ‘ build a pipeline ’ – referring to the fact that those we teach now , are our future plumbers – starting with grade 10 and building up through to grades 11 and 12 .
This intervention will focus on the upskilling of staff and ensuring suitable equipment is available for training according to the DEPARTMENT curricula . The present grade 10 – 12 CIVIL Curricula covers close to 100 % of the OCCUPATIONAL PLUMBER CURRICULUM .
Much work is yet to be done , but five schools have been selected for this programme .
The next few meetings will delve deeper into the ‘ hows ’ and ‘ wherefores ’. Without a doubt , the learners in this programme will be well-equipped to complete their apprenticeships when leaving school , much wiser and more appreciative of the road ahead leading up to the trade test .
Nick Joubert of IOPSA explained the process : The SASOL SCHOOLS project will be done on a PILOT basis with MARKET PLACE , who has been appointed by SASOL as the implementing agent . Five high schools have been selected in the East Rand .
Once the learner has completed grade 12 , he or she will have close to full credits for the knowledge component of the PLUMBER threeyear training . This can lead to a reduction in the training time of an apprentice . QCTO is part of the IOPSA process to re-engineer the PLUMBING CAREER PATH , and this will have positive effects within our industry . PA
“ This intervention will focus on upskilling staff and ensuring suitable equipment is available .”
IOPSA will visit these schools and evaluate the present workshops together with the teachers and support staff . Gaps will be identified , and a roll-out plan will be designed and implemented .
January 2024 Volume 29 I Number 11 www . plumbingafrica . co . za