Plumbing Africa June 2019 | Page 8

6 NEWS GSTP will be to enhance the role of TVET colleges as centres of innovative programme delivery aligned to employment opportunities in local economic areas. This will be achieved through a social dialogue approach, building and maintaining effective social partnerships and a fundamental paradigm shift in the design and delivery of college programmes. It will also be achieved through ensuring the programmes being offered are aimed at preparing young people for entry into the workplace and meeting the needs of employers. The programme has two broad objectives: 1. Demonstrate a TVET college intervention model that significantly improves teaching and learning and industry responsiveness and can be replicated across the TVET sub-system. 2. Create scalable and sustainable pathways for TVET College students to mid-level Green Skills occupations in large, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering pathways to artisan trades and self-employment. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAMME Key elements of the three-year programme include the following: • Demand Activation — working through extensive employer networks to unlock “latent” demand for entry level technical roles across the green economy. • Defined learning pathways — working with employer bodies and regulatory bodies, such as the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) to create new designations and recognition for entry level occupations and establish the minimum competence requirements for the workplace learning requirements. • Appropriate selection and matching of TVET College candidates to the requirements of workplace roles. • A 12-month work integrated programme, combining practical skills, work readiness and workplace learning. The curriculum will combine foundational engineering skills with more specialised skills linked to SWH and PV manufacturing, installation, repair and maintenance. The first six months will be delivered through a dual training model, combining institutional training in the colleges with workplace training. The work readiness training will be integrated with the institutional training and then reinforced in the workplace. The workplace training will be conducted under the supervision of qualified and experienced electricians and plumbers. The second six months will comprise pure workplace learning where the skills will be further reinforced and practiced under the supervision of a qualified artisan. During the 12 months, candidates will follow a structured programme and complete a logbook regularly signed off by their supervisors. June 2019 Volume 25 I Number 4 At the end of the placement period, candidates will either be absorbed into jobs as an electrical or plumbing assistant (with a potential pathway to a trade) and support offered to those who would prefer to start their own businesses. PARTNERS The partnership includes: NBI, Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), GIZ, Nedbank, Trade Unions (NUM, NEHAWU, NAPTOSA) and TVET Colleges: Northlink and Tshwane North have confirmed their participation in the initiative, Central Johannesburg College (NBI is awaiting confirmation of participation from DHET following unrest at the college in 2018), South West College (consultative discussions with the college will resume in February), and Cape College, False Bay, Umfolozi and Buffalo City (will be invited to take part in the initiative. GENERAL POINTS 1. Securing demand upfront is one of the critical success factors of this initiative as evidenced in the demonstration project with Central Johannesburg College where 24 candidates except one, are in jobs, with six expressing an interest in starting their own businesses. 2. Focusing on Green Skills provides a platform to demonstrate the implementation of the broader IRM concept while at the same time strengthening the capacity of TVET colleges to be agile and forward- looking in their response to demand and in preparing youth for shifts in the world of work. The approach can be replicated and adapted for use in non-technical fields of study. 3. The project forms part of the Jobs Summit Agreements where 7 500 candidates will be placed in Installation Repair and Maintenance jobs with the Green Skills initiative contributing 1 260 candidates over three years. 4. Although private funding has been secured, there is a budget shortfall for stipends. SETA funding is urgently needed for additional funding. SKILLS AND JOBS IN THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY The programme partners have initiated a programme to develop learning and employment pathways for Technical Plumbing Assistant, targeting unemployed youth and offering a pathway to becoming a qualified plumber. The programme will also provide a specific specialisation in solar water heating over and above a strong plumbing foundation. This programme forms part of the Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Initiative, a large-scale programme to unblock barriers and increase entry pathways into technical occupations for a large number of unemployed youth. www.plumbingafrica.co.za