GS benefits from CHIETA
“We have to stand on the shoulders of the giants and in this instance that giant is Chieta.”
EVANDER – The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) has launched its bursary training programme with Gert Sibande TVET College and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The event took place on Friday, 9 September at GS TVET College Evander Campus.
The day began with a chemical operations simulation of the water purification plant.
The chemical operation students demonstrated how the plant works.
They showed how water circulates through different instruments and the end product should be purified water.
They also showed the main panel room with real trends through which the water flows, and the temperature and pressure.
It was also mentioned that one can either decide to begin the process directly at the plant or through remote control from the main panel room.
During the launch, it was mentioned that Sasol and Lekwa Municipality will take the first group of graduates and the college is still negotiating with the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Mr Nick Balkrishen, CEO of Gert Sibande TVET College, said during his welcoming speech that the country is facing unemployment, especially among the youth between 18 and 24 years old and that Government is referring to the unemployment crisis as “a ticking time bomb”.
“Therefore colleges are expected to disarm this time bomb by providing our youth with relevant and responsive skills that will see them being employed, joining universities or beginning their own businesses.
“We realised that we have to partner with stakeholders in order to achieve this mission and that is where this partnership began,” said Mr Balkrishen.
He also mentioned that in our country we see many jobs being advertised daily and some are advertised time and time again without being filled.
Mr Balkrishen said there is not actually a shortage of jobs, though the economy is on a low point at the moment, but there is a mismatch between the training provided to the youth and the jobs and skills that are required by most companies.
“GS also realised that in order to see further and become better, we have to stand on the shoulders of the giants and in this instance that giant is Chieta.
“What excites us is that this project will provide our own students with skills that will enhance their chances of being employable,” Mr Balkrishen elaborated.
He said skills taught to their students include theory, practical components in their workshops and on-the-job training.
Ms Raakshani Sing, Grants and Strategic Projects Executive Manager, said the partnership with GS College is aimed at fast tracking the sustainable development of critical skills in the chemical industry.
She also mentioned that the authority’s strategic objectives are to establish a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning, to increase access to occupationally directed programmes, to promote growth of a public technical vocational education and training (TVET) college system that is responsive to sector, local, regional and national skills needs and priorities.
