Question NW1233 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
24 May 2016 - NW1233
McLoughlin, Mr AR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1)With reference to her department’s advertisement that it will train 15 000 youths as plumbers, (a) what (i) are the relevant details of the training programme that will be provided by her department and (ii) qualification will the successful trainees receive upon completion, (b) who will be eligible for the specified training programme, (c) where will the specified training programme be presented, (d) what is the duration of the specified training programme and (e) when (i) will and/or (ii) did the specified training programme commence; (2)(a) what is the cost per trainee with regard to the specified training programme, (b)(i) which funds of (ii) which Budget Vote will be utilised for the specified training programme and (c)(i) where and (ii) for what duration will each trainee be deployed once qualified?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i) With reference to my Department’s advertisement to train 15 000 youths as plumbers, the following are in place. My Department has appointed Rand Water and Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) as implementing agents responsible for project/programme management and training, respectively. The training takes place in three phases, namely:
- Phase 1 commenced last year 2015 and 3000 learners were recruited.
- Phase 2 to start in July 2016 and 7000 prospective learners are being recruited country wide.
- Phase 3 to start in 2017 and remaining 5000 learners to be recruited as part of Phase 3.
Since the objective of the programme is to fix water leaks in municipalities, the learners are recruited from priority municipalities across the country that experience high water loses. The learners will be placed in these municipalities as part of experiential training.
(1)(a)(ii) Qualifications that successful trainees will receive upon completion of the programme are as follows:
- Water Agents;
- Artisans; and
- Plumbers.
(1)(b) Eligibility for the specified training programme. Since the programme requires technical expertise in water environment, the following entry requirements are defined:
- Grade 10 – 12 for Water Agents; and
- Grade 12 / N3 with Maths and Science for Artisans and Plumbers.
(1)(c) Training of the programme takes place at TVETS and private technical colleges across the country. The practical part of the training programme takes place at the municipalities and technical facilities provided by TVETS and private technical colleges.
(1)(d) All learners are recruited for a 36 month period, which includes the theory and workplace/experiential part of the programme.
(1)(e) The programme was launched on 28 August 2015 by the Honourable President, Mr Jacob Zuma.
- Phase 1 started in September 2015;
- Phase 2 to start in July 2016; and
- Phase 3 planned to comments April 2017.
(2)(a) Cost per candidate within the respective disciplines, which includes stipend paid for the duration of 36 months.
(i) Artisans – R175 489;
(ii) Plumbers – R177 345; and
(iii) Water Agents – R69 494.
(2)(b) The funds for the programme will be from the Water Trading Entity.
(2)(c)(i) The learners will be placed in priority municipalities across the county, which have high water loses.
(2)(c)(ii) The learners will be at these municipalities for the contract period of the programme.
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