SA Affordable Housing March - April 2020 // ISSUE: 81 | Page 13

ASSOCIATION
SAPMA’s Skills Bank for the
painting trade
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e
There are few qualified painters in South Africa
at the moment – because the registered paint
qualification expired years ago, and with the
construction sector in a slump, paint contractors
can’t afford to train them.
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By Eamonn Ryan
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S A P M A (th e
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www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
N
o painters have been trained in South Africa since the
demise of Building Industry Federation of SA (BIFSA) in
the 90s, says Deryck Spence, executive director SAPMA
(the South African Paint Manufacturing Association). Training
is consequently a major focus of the organisation. It had
earlier established SAPITI (the SA Paint Institute of Training) in
the 80s – and is in the process of making this institute more fit-
for-purpose.
“We negotiated with our UK colleagues (British Coatings
Federation) to buy their training programme and introduce it
into South Africa. However, this is a technology qualification,
for paint chemists, and has eight modules, takes four-and-a-
half years, and is at university level. The majority of students
never finish, because much of it is distance learning with
occasional tutorials, and the quality of education in this
country left many at too low a literacy level to continue
without assistance,” says Spence.
“We’ve now subdivided that structure into two more
modules, and learners who complete half the course can
graduate with at least some qualification and recognition of
that through the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and
Occupations). We have also started a process with CHIETA
(Chemical industries Seta) for the development of for instance
modules-based qualification which will include the technical
sales training, which takes two to three days on our premises or
the members’ premises.
“We also run a manufacturing programme for workers in that
environment and which is delivered inhouse. This is delivered
typically by tutors who previously held technical positions with
paint manufacturers and have since retired and now help out,”
says Spence. “This is funded through the CHIETA, although
getting that funding is a daily challenge,” he adds.
There is also a short three-day paint application course
covering theory of what constitutes paint, how paint is made
and the practice of application. “However, this takes an
individual only so far, and to get an actual paint qualification
requires experience with contractors. The BIFSA training facility
used to provide this as an apprenticeship and take an individual
right through to the ultimate qualification. “What we have at
No painters have been trained in South Africa since the demise of
Building Industry Federation of SA (BIFSA) in the 90s.
the moment is unqualified ‘trade painters’ whom we are hoping
to list in a Skills Bank that contractors can draw from, and
provide them with work experience, which can be recognised as
RPL, or ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’.
Spence says, “CHIETA (ETQA Department) should be
commended on their effort of developing a paint
qualification the lower level of which is already
registered with SAQA and for which we are still waiting
for the other part (higher level) to be registered. This will
help us in the establishment of the Skills Bank.
“How this will work is as follows: A contractor can draw from
our skills bank, employ one for, say, 18 months, during which
time we put them through the RPL process. As he proves he can
do the work and establish proof of competence and that he can
meet the criteria, he can end up with a qualification. This
effectively involves acquiring a qualification backwards. I
believe that it is time for the construction industry to insist on
qualified painters,” says Spence.
SAPMA is one of the older trade associations in South Africa
having started over 80 years ago. Its industry is a key
component of affordable housing. SAPMA today represents
paint manufacturers both large and small; raw material
providers; and the distribution chain including contractors. The
definition of ‘raw materials’ is sufficiently broad to include most
of the packaging and equipment companies.
MARCH - APRIL 2020
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