FEATURES
23
“ When it comes to skilled artisans , we have both a quantity gap and a quality gap ,” says Kabongo . “ Artisan training has not changed much over the last 50-100 years . Innovations in education have not filtered through to technical training . There have been many initiatives that have failed to address the challenges in artisan education , perpetuating a lack of trust . The resulting environment makes training increasingly difficult .”
While the QCTO ( Quality Council for Trades and Occupations ) is the higher education qualification accreditation body and have a number of registered occupationally aligned qualifications for QCTO-accredited training providers to train on , there is also a need for shorter courses aligned to new trade practices that will assist learners and current plumbers to upskills themselves . This is a focus for EWSETA who works closely with IOPSA and other professional bodies to ensure that education and training solutions can be adaptable and agile .
“ Low unemployment numbers are linked to Covid-19 and low economic growth as well as the learner ’ s lack of work experience or not possessing the right technical skills ,” says Donaldson . She points out that people with disabilities and females have a harder time in the job and skills market than males . “ Young women are not given as many opportunities . Young women need to consider things such as transport costs and childcare should they want to study or work .”
An additional gap exists when it comes to knowledge of South African National Standards ( SANS ). This regulates the plumbing industry and without knowing what SANS documents are required in the plumbing environment , learners and apprentices may be skipping critical aspects of what they need to know for compliant installation , a knowledge gap that could place both themselves and the consumer at risk .
“ Being a professional and successful artisan can only be achieved if the artisan continuously develops and improves themselves by being up-to-date with the SANS standards , new technology and having a finger on the pulse of what is happening in the industry ,” says Botha . “ Most of the manufacturers and suppliers of plumbing components and materials do training on their products and it would be in the plumbing artisan ’ s best interest to enquire about these interventions and attend the training provided .”
Health and safety consultant and Plumbing Africa contributor Chris Coetzee also highlights that governance when it comes to training is not strict . “ There is currently a bill waiting to be passed that seeks to absolve all unit standard training ,” he says , “ This could be a dangerous move , even though the government ’ s intentions are to seek out a higher standard of training . This means it could involve an additional cost of between R 5000 and R 10000 per person for assessments and examinations , which would then make the training unaffordable for those who are wanting to undertake it .”
Not just that : it could also result in delays in receiving qualifications and create a backlog .
This results in an increase in fly-by-night colleges that take advantage of these loopholes and provide unaccredited and sub-standard training and fraudulently produce certificates , and people will pay good money for a legitimate looking certificate . Artisans require to undertake a Trade Test
July 2024 Volume 30 I Number 5 www . plumbingafrica . co . za