What is the College-Industry Partnership? | What is Vocational Education? | What are FET Colleges? | Why are FET Colleges viewed as critical to addressing the skills shortage facing South Africa? | Who is responsible for the FET Sector? | What is the role of the College Governing Council? | What is an apprenticeship? | What is an artisan? | What is new National Curriculum (Vocational)? | What is a Learnership? | Does the NBI provide training? | Does the NBI provide funding? |
What is the College-Industry Partnership? |
The intent of the NBI’s College-Industry Partnership (CIP) initiative is to draw business leaders and companies into the forefront to support effective skills development, adopt a collective approach to engagement, and thereby strengthen the contribution of FET Colleges to job creation.
The initiative is built around ten key elements of a programme to guide the engagement of colleges and industry. Programmes provide the scope for partnerships to address both strategic and operational issues in Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges. |
What is Vocational Education? |
Vocational education is an organised educational program that is directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment. The system prepares learners for careers or professions that are traditionally non-academic and directly related to a trade, occupation or 'vocation' in which the learner participates. |
What are FET Colleges? |
FET includes a wide range of providers. These include colleges, secondary schools, private providers, NGOs, community organisations and employers. The public FET college sector consists mainly of the former Technical Colleges, although Colleges of Education, Manpower and Skills centres and some former community colleges were also merged during the restructuring process, with Technical Colleges to form the new FET colleges.
The public FET College system currently consists of 50 colleges each with one main campus and several satellite campuses. The college system has countrywide representivity. |
Why are FET Colleges viewed as critical to addressing the skills shortage facing South Africa? |
The business case for building a strong public FET system in South Africa rests in the need to ensure that the country produces sufficient middle to higher level skills. These are the foundations for increased levels of economic growth and wealth creation that are positive good in themselves, and will enable South Africa to steadily reduce unemployment and lift the poor out of the cycle of poverty.
As part of this core function, colleges must play a growing and increasingly significant role in upskilling and reskilling the workforce, training adult and unemployed learners and providing young people with alternative opportunities to academic secondary and higher education. |
Who is responsible for the FET Sector? |
The Department of Education is responsible for the management of FET Colleges. The National Department is responsible for formulating policy, setting norms and standards, and monitoring and evaluating all levels of education. The provincial departments are responsible for the prioritising and implementation of policy. |
What is the role of the College Governing Council? |
Each FET College operates under a single governing council appointed to oversee effective and accountable management across and within the various FET College campuses and sites. |
What is an apprenticeship? |
An apprenticeship is a non unit standard based registered qualification, which is governed by the sections 13 – 29 of the Manpower Training Act 56 of 1981.An apprenticeship comprises the integration of workplace and institutional learning and culminates in a national qualification. |
What is an artisan? |
The artisan is a technically skilled person. Whilst he/she will mainly do manual work, these skills require a fairly high degree of scientific and engineering knowledge and a considerable amount of experience in the electrical trade.
The tasks of the artisan in the workplace could entail:
- installation
- maintenance
- repairs
- servicing
- operating of for example - control systems, generators, transformers, power lines, etc .
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What is new National Curriculum (Vocational)? |
The National Certificate Vocational is the new curriculum that is being introduced to FET Colleges by the Department of Education around the country. It gives learners, specifically in the 15-24 age group a vocational alternative to an academic Grade 10-12 by offering specialised training on National Qualifying Framework levels 2-4.
The National Certificate (Vocational) is a three year qualification made up of three certificates obtained in National Qualifications Framework Levels 2, 3 and 4.
All National Certificate Vocational programmes consist of the fundamentals learning component and a vocational component and comprises of 130 credits on each level.
The fundamental learning component is essential for the qualification and forms the basis for all other learning at that level. It comprises credits in language, Mathematical literacy or Mathematics and Life Orientation. This component is made up of 50 credits.
The vocational component defines the qualification as being of a specific type. It therefore consists of training that is relevant to the particular vocational field. This component is made up of four subjects of 20 credits each. |
What is a Learnership? |
A Learnership is a vocational education and training programme. It combines theory and practice, culminating in a qualification that is registered with South African Qualifications Authority.
A person who successfully completes a Learnership will have a qualification that signifies occupational competence and is recognized throughout the country. |
Does the NBI provide training? |
The NBI is not a training provider. It does however, coordinate and manage projects that incorporate training initiatives. The NBI draws on relevant experts and facilitators to deliver the training in our areas of focus, namely Education and Skills, Sustainable Development and Economic Growth. Examples of interventions facilitated by the NBI includes the Partnership Training Programme and the College Governance development programme offered to educators and councilors in colleges within the Mining CIP. |
Does the NBI provide funding? |
The NBI is a Section 21, not-for-profit organisation, whose core funding is supported by a voluntary contribution from 140 member companies. The NBI seeks additional funding for programmes and projects, which have a strategic, catalytic impact in Sustainable Development, Education and Skills and Economic Growth. The NBI is therefore not positioned to fund projects for third parties. |