THE CHALLENGES FACING OPERATOR DEVELOPMENT AT MUNICIPALITIES Date: 27 th November, 2007 Presenter: Daniel Lentle

The Big Picture – South Africa 1. Legislation SAQA Act 58 of 1995 Skills Development Act 9 of 1998 Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 Manpower Training Act 56 of Qualifications & Unit Standards SGB’s generate unit standards & qualifications SAQA registers qualifications & unit standards DoL registers learnerships for SETA 3. Curriculum Framework Unit standards contents analysis Constructed per qualification matrix and NQF level Creates a blue print for courseware development courseware development 5 Learnership Implementation Workplace Readiness: mentor and assessor training, learner selection, pre-course assessment and registration Requirements for accreditation of workplaces: Policy statement, QA system, Quality Management System, Learning programme delivery; policies and procedures; physical resources; record keeping Project Based Approach: Implementation model with measurable outcomes for the learner and business Integrated learning projects Mentor/instructor driven Measures applied competence as well as effectiveness of the learner Integrated summative assessments against project outcomes and qualification exit level outcomes 4. Course Development Methodology Outcomes based learning Learner centered Self-paced learning Integrated Learning Critical cross field outcomes Transferability Mastery learning Modular Workplace based Build-in assessment tools Must yield evidence for formative and Summative assessments 6. Education and Training QA Accredit providers Assure quality delivery and assessment of Registered unit standards 7. QCTO rationalize the work of the sector ETQA bodies which currently fall under Setas

SECTOR PERSPECTIVES - MUNICIPALITIES LearnershipsLearnerships Skills ProgrammesSkills Programmes Training in General ( No Emphasis on Accredited Training)Training in General ( No Emphasis on Accredited Training)

Case Scenarios Rand Water - Field Tests (Chlorine Training) Ngwathe Municipality - General Plant Optimization

Rand Water Scenario Problems associated with data correlationProblems associated with data correlation Decision taken:Decision taken: “everybody to be retrained”“everybody to be retrained” Training needs analysis not conductedTraining needs analysis not conducted

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d) Mode Of Assessment: 1. Written 2. Observation

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d) Results:Results: 1. Over 90 % problems had nothing to do with skill % of problems associated with processes and attitude 3. Less than 15 % systems 4. Protracted training as a result of misalignment

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d) How Problem Was SolvedHow Problem Was Solved 1.Management to take responsibility 2.New equipment bought in line with recommendations 3.Procedures streamlined to be uniform throughout organization 4.Constant quality checks on operators

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d) Return On Investment achievedReturn On Investment achieved 1.High correlation of data from source to tap 2.Savings associated with knowledge of accurate information 3.High correlation between QC and QA data 4.A near total obliteration of resampling/re- analysis

Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization Mandate: 1.Train Operators to perform functions effectively and efficiently 2.Identify the “untrainable” Operators

Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization (cont’d) Modus Operandi: 1. Conduct Training Needs Analysis 2.Used min requirements as set by DWAF & NQF Lvl 2 SAQA qualification for Water & Wastewater Operators 3. Analysis of results and setting up training priorities

Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization (cont’d)

Resultant Intervention As A Result Of Findings 1.No “untrainable” operator 2.Focus based mainly on weak areas, e.g. plant optimization, basic microbiology and basic calculations 3.Other areas also revisited 4.Training effective and with minimal hours of intervention. Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization (cont’d)

Return On InvestmentReturn On Investment 1.Positive attitude inculcated 2.Better compliance with SANS Buy-in from Management with regard to training 4.Savings on operational costs Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization (cont’d)

General Conclusion As a direct comparison of the two scenarios: 1.No sense in attempting to help with skills acquisition if one does not know where the problem lies- Do Training Needs Analysis first. 2.The result of Training Needs Analysis should direct the Skills Training 3.Options are available to Fast-track Training Acquisition, e.g. Skills Programmes.

I will ! Experience & Realistic Plans Commitment Tenacity Endurance I want to ! Motivation Personality Style of work I can ! Able Skilled Competent I may ! Opportunities Clarity / Focus / Profile Authority Resources Systems Feedback / Information Vehicles I believe ! Convictions Purpose in life Reason for living HUMAN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT TRIANGLE – SIMPLE MODEL “Triangle/Pyramid - The Strongest Shape in the world”)

Training Strategy Business Priorities WORK PLACE SKILLS PLAN Training Grants RPL SAQA ETQA Assessment Planned Training Training of occupational categories per training cluster / race / gender Workplace Training Report to SETA Legislation Strategic Business Priorities Skill Priorities Addressed Business Needs

Project Performance Project Performance Management Ownership Commitment Involvement Implement Expert from work place Scientists Consultants Organisation Advisors Make strategic decisions Provide Expert Advice Support Project Development Each employee Project Manager Plan Lead Control Organise Trade Unions Empirical Reasoning Facilitate experiments Draw hypothesis Positive attitude Learn Perform Rewards Development Advise Coach and Train Assess Monitor Inputs Partners in process Support Politics Role players / Stakeholders in projects

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” Derek Curtis Bok“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” Derek Curtis Bok “If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them”“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them” Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov

Thank You