moladi College - Training in Construction

The Herald Online

Urgent call for more artisans to be trained2009/07/10 Bob Kernohan BUSINESS EDITOR kernohanb@avusa.co.za
AN education and training expert called yesterday for the “skills revolution” to pick up and for artisans to be regarded not as “grease monkeys” but as being essential to economic growth.
Dr Raymond Patel, chief executive of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Training Authority (Merseta), also told business leaders in Mandela Bay of the dramatic drop, and likely shortfall, in the number of artisans in the country.
The number of artisans throughout the country totalled 28000 in 1986, but that figure had dropped to only 5000 in 2007, Patel said at a briefing organised by the PE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Percci) and Bridgestone Firestone tyres.
The average age of artisans today was 54 – and Patel warned that unless dramatic steps were taken both to increase their numbers through accelerated training of thousands of replacements, and the recognition of their vital role, growth would be affected.
He blamed parents for not wanting their children to have jobs that involved getting “their hands dirty” by being “grease monkeys ...”
Patel – who has a PhD in education management – also urged that more emphasis be placed on students attending further education and training colleges (FETs). There they could study in “hard” skills, like engineering, science and technology, rather than taking “soft” courses like marketing and communications
“We are the only country in the world where we have more students at universities than we have at further education and training facilities.”
Yet, he said, 86% of students from the FET colleges gained employment within six months of leaving.
Artisans could be qualified within 18 months in terms of the accelerated programme. It required an entrance level of N3 or N4, depending on the field chosen, and comprised 24 weeks of classroom training and 56 weeks of experience in the workplace.
Such programmes also made huge sense for companies as billions of rands were available from the various Setas, which were funded by levies paid by companies anyway, said Patel.
Companies could get funding of a basic R30000, plus R6000 for each employee being trained in approved programmes. In addition, funds were now being made available to companies for re-skilling people as an alternative to retrenchment.
Such re-skilling programmes were essential as they provided not only fresh opportunities for workers, but also helped them gain self-respect.
“Often, losing a job leads to a downward socio-economic spiral that affects not only the worker, but the family and the surrounding community.”
Patel urged managers to be proactive and be at the forefront of taking on the “skills revolution” and widening its effects.

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