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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