CONTRIBUTORS
RENEWED FOCUS ON SPECIFIC SKILLS While change is always difficult and challenging , it ’ s important to remember that the new QCTO qualifications are intended to be specific in terms of the occupational profile of those who should benefit from the qualification to enhance the quality thereof .
To facilitate this renewed functional focus , there has been a shift from generic training to specific skill sets . This is in line with the QCTO ’ s mandate to ensure that there are occupational qualifications that respond to South Africa ’ s skills development priorities to support labour market needs and state initiatives .
MAKING THE SWITCH This will require transformation , right down to a business operating level . All Sector and Training Authorities ( SETAs ) report to the QCTO . SETAs are licensed until 2030 and will continue with the annual WSP / ATR , allocation of grants and funding , learnerships and the phasing out of legacy qualifications . Under the QCTO , they will also have the additional responsibility as development quality partners ( DQP ) and assessment quality partners ( AQP ) for occupational qualifications . Another major change that will take some getting used to is the programme duration for some learnerships . Some learnership cycles have now been increased to two years , in some cases five , depending on the qualification . As for SDPs , it will be critical for them to get accredited and to align themselves with AQPs , to move from the SETA space to the QCTO space as soon as possible to leverage their understanding of how best to make the transition .
SDPs will need guidance in implementing and adapting to the new processes .
ADAPT OR GET LEFT BEHIND It ’ s essential for all organisations involved with skills development to ensure that they are positioned and ready for this change if they ’ re to survive the transition . A transition of this magnitude is going to have gaps and possible glitches , but now is the time for both industry and SDPs to work towards understanding these new processes and policies and perhaps challenge the implementation thereof where there is a lack of clarity or ambiguity .
This is particularly important where companies are reliant on skills development programmes for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ( B-BBEE ) level points . To this end , such organisations would be wise to partner with training provider partners that have already undertaken and achieved QCTO accreditation to lead the way . RACA
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RACA Journal I February 2023 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za