Question NW3063 to the Mr AP van der Westhuizen (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
21 November 2018 - NW3063
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Mr AP van der Westhuizen (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1) Whether the Institute for the National Development of Learnerships, Employment Skills and Labour Assessments (lndlela) is already assessing candidates for the welder qualification against the standards and contents as recently set by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations; if not, (a) why not and (b) will lndlela be moving towards the more modern industry standards in due course; if so, (i) how do the contents and standards in the new qualification differ from the standards set for the old qualification and (ii) what number of learners have been successful in their trade test against the reviewed standard up to the latest date for which information is available; (2) whether lndlela possesses all equipment required to assess students against the revised qualification; if not, (a) what would the estimated costs be to purchase the necessary equipment and (b) by what date would lndlela be ready to assess students for the welding qualification; (3) (a) which body would be undertaking an advocacy campaign in order to inform potential employers about the contents and benefits of the new qualification and (b) what amount is envisaged to be spent on the advocacy campaign? NW3427E
Reply:
(1 )(a) The Department through the Dual System Pilot Project is still developing the National Occupations Curriculum Content (NOCC) for the 13 priority occupational trades including welding. In the interim, INDLELA and the other trade test centres are still using the legacy trades to train and test artisans.
(b) INDLELA has no other option but to modernise its equipment, which is largely ideal only for the transitional legacy trades. To achieve the transformation, a Recapitalisation Plan for INDLELA was developed in 2016 to cater for the improvement of security and upgrading of the INDLELA facility as a whole, which includes the modernisation of workshop machinery. Sector Education and Training Authorities (SET As) have contributed R26 million towards the upgrading of INDLELA.
(i) The primary difference between the content of legacy trade programme (including welding) and the new occupational trade programmes is in the trade curriculum content, which for the occupational trades emphasises more workplace learning. This is a departure from the legacy trades, which do not emphasise rigorous workplace learning, especially where a workplace contract is absent. Furthermore, the mode of delivery of training for legacy trades uses one of the two approaches, i.e. dual or linear depending on the availability of a workplace contract. Where a workplace contract is available, the training will be of a dual nature. Where a workplace contract is not available, the training will be linear, resulting in the learner initially acquiring theory and practical learning, and later workplace learning when a workplace contract is available.
(ii) No learners have been tested against the reviewed qualifications to date.
(2) INDLELA has sufficient equipment to test only for the transitional legacy trades.
(a) To meet the new assessment standards for welding once the NOCC has been completed, INDLELA will need approximately R20 million to upgrade its existing welding workshops.
(b) The current funding made available by SETAs will allow INDLELA to deliver the trade testing by 2020. It should be noted that INDLELA does not receive voted funds to undertake major capital projects.
3)(a) INDLELA through its Artisan Development and National Artisan Moderation Body Directorates started the advocacy campaign in 2016 when the draft National Artisan Development Strategy was conceptualised. All provinces were visited to conduct workshops on the content of the draft strategy and dual system approach in relation to the new occupational trades. This exercise culminated in the hosting of the Artisan Development Conference on 6 - 7 December 2016. Furthermore, INDLELA established consultative forums, which include Provincial Artisan Development Steering Committees, Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, SETAs, organised business and labour, and other government departments with the aim to keep every artisan training stakeholder on board regarding artisan development matters, including the devolution of the new trade occupations.
(b) The national advocacy campaign costs INDLELA approximately R5 million per annum.