Page 68 of 91
industry.
• Research to be initiated for the sector to create a comprehensive current & future skills plan for the sector. • The industry with the DHET to address an exit strategy for pupils who wish to leave school at Grade 9. At present they have no options and become unemployed. Government should advertise it as an opportunity, not a disadvantage. • Scarce skills and occupations in high demand need to accessible from School Grade 9 level, with assistance from the industry. • Enhanced mobility between the industries in both public and private sectors, through intensive training and development, •
• Technical skills career path emphasis from Grade 9 level has to be more accessible and encouraged for youth transitioning into Technical & Operational Careers. • There should be a career path from operator to artisan, recognizing skills learnt on the job as well as formal training. Programmes need to recognize the interrelated competence requirements. • Insufficient measurable recognition of acquired skills forcing dependence on degrees & diplomas. • Insufficient DHET focus on occupationally directed qualifications, with standardisation of curriculum content between industries. Insufficient focus on development and delivery of training and insufficient quality assurance . • • Lack of long-term occupational training programmes for progression in Production and Engineering careers. Gap in • middle management levels is a barrier to progression. • Lack of correlation of competence between NDip, BTech and Degree is an obstacle to progression. • Phasing out of obsolete qualifications. • The period of experiential training for the National Certificates is being reduced from a year to 6 months, without consultation with industry. This is not aligned to the needs of industry and industry has already complained and said it will not hire graduates with only 6 months of experiential training. • Support material & immediate growth in Digital Education. Industry 4.0 is discussed by industry leaders and government, but adoption is fairly low compared to competitor nations. • The use of cloud technology, cyber-security, system integration and the internet of things (IoT) are integrated into the daily operations of steel firms. • Steel firms are adopting predictive maintenance software for automation and robotics.
Curriculum of programmes to emphasis interrelated work-integrated learning. These need to be interchangeable and interrelated for career progression in lifelong learning. A mentorship programme for managers and artisan / technical staff is needed within firms and across the industry sectors. Consultation with Industry is required for transitioning of programmes and qualifications.
•
•
•
• There is an urgent need for the DHET, the universities of technology, the TVET colleges and the SETAs to sit down with industry to review curricula, equipment and career guidance strategies. • It is not clear that the SETAs, the TVET colleges and the universities have consulted with industry regarding the skill and expertise profiles required
for the future and in particular for the 4IR. Consultations need to be Industry focused.
• Government needs to focus on the supply of high levels of communications connectivity and cheaper data for accessibility.
Funding models need to be re-assessed and funded programmes need re-assessment. Universities and TVET institutions need to be accountable for the quality of their outputs – relevance & employment of graduates. An industry-wide mentoring programme for middle management and further training for artisans to become Meisterarbeiteren (the German Master Craftsman title and system).
• Millions have been spent on short learnerships, which have not met the intended NDP goals as • the skills supplied have not kept abreast with the skills demand changes, leading to low industry absorption rates. Curriculum content was also unsatisfactory for Industry technological progression. • The steel industry has often taken an active lead, including funding for skills programmes.
•
•
•
54
The South African Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan 1.0
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease