Innovative centre of specialisation launched in Springs
According to Sibande, 132 apprentices have been trained at the college, which looks to train 130 more.
Springs – The Ekurhuleni East TVET College Artisan Skills Development Centre held the official launch of their centre of specialisation in boilermaking.
This made the college one of two TVET colleges in the Gauteng province to be part of the centre of specialisation initiative.
This innovative programme works hand in hand with the Dual Skills Pilot Project (DSPP), which is based on the collaboration between industry and the training institutions to ensure students exit as a skilled and capable workforce. The initiative is from the Department of Higher Education and Training and aims to respond to the demand for priority trades needed to satisfy government’s National Development Plan and its National Infrastructure Plan.
ALSO READ:
Be on the look-out for fly-by-night colleges
It also aims to build the capacity of TVET colleges to deliver trade qualifications with employer partners.
Speaking at the launch, college principal Happy Sindane says she is happy and proud that their college was chosen to be part of the programme.
“We are proud and honoured to be able to participate meaningfully in innovative programmes such as the centre of specialisation,” she says.
“As Ekurhuleni East TVET College, we didn’t struggle to place these young people because we have already started working very closely with companies around us.”
This, according to Sindane, is because the nature of the initiative is that they may not start training students until they have been contracted to companies.
Training manager at the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) Kwakho Mpepho says their experience with the programme has been phenomenal.
“I know there’s so much pressure they can be under from both the employers and the college, but the professionalism with which they are handling themselves is making us all proud,” says Mpepho.
IOPSA is the lead employer for plumbing artisans in the DSPP and Centre of Specialisation programmes.
During her keynote address, Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor says government is employing a range of strategies with the challenge of youth unemployment.
“Our desire as a department is not simply to prepare young people to be employed, we wish as well to prepare young people to be employers because we believe entrepreneurship is going to be the basis of economic growth and wealth in our country,” she says.
ALSO READ:
Following the launch event, Pandor was taken on a tour of the workshop where she interacted with the students, asking them about their work.
One of the students, Kedibone Mahlare, says she loves being a plumbing artisan.
“I started in January last year and can now do a full installation.
“I am especially proud to be a black female in plumbing,” she says.
According to Sibande, 132 apprentices have been trained at the college, which looks to train 130 more.
