Sparrow pupils take flight with hydraulics

A recent partnership between The Sparrow FET College and global giant Pirek has created a wonderful opportunity for students to acquire specialised skills in hydraulics.

This partnership has been entitled The Sparrow FET College Fluid and Hose Assembly Programme. The programme has a national qualifications framework (NQF) level two and three, which is fully funded by Pirtek.

It has produced 100 per cent pass rate for the students involved.

Sixteen students enrolled have successfully completed the programme, nine of which were employed across different Pirtek branches in South Africa.

This achievement comes after 12 students from the Automotive Repair and Maintenance programme found employment at different motor companies around Johannesburg.

The learning programme equips students with skills to make up hydraulic hose assemblies, identify and select the correct fittings, read and interpret basic fluid power engineering drawings, and maintain safe working procedures.

The programme’s facilitator Parker Shamiel has over 20 years worth of experience in the hydraulics industry.

Shamiel has worked for big companies including SAB, Denel, and GNKEM. He has played a crucial role in the programme’s success.

“I don’t have a secret really, I just advised the students to know what is happening and when it is happening. I also taught them the importance of respect; I gave them respect as well to improve their self-esteem. I would tell them to put themselves in the employer’s position and then ask them, ‘which employee do you think you would employ amongst yourselves?”

It is through these partnerships between Pirtek and Sparrow that more youth will continue to emerge qualified with critical skills that enable them to be self-reliant and obtain a place in the labour market. Sparrow FET College continues to hope that such partnerships will help eliminate the high levels of unemployment and eradicate levels of poverty.