1. REGIONAL SKILLS FORUM: ARTISAN DEVELOPMENT
Presented by: APPRENTICESHIP MANAGER: MS TSHIDI MAGONARE
6 NOVEMBER 2012

2. New Regulations/Criteria by the Dept of Higher Education &Training (DHET)
These Regs are developed:
in order to standardise the workings across all SETAs
to ensure that SETAs are using same processes and documents
The Regs/criteria include (some still to be developed/established:
Funding Model
Learning Programmes
Trade Test
7 Steps to Artisanship
RPL Model to replace Section 28 (Pilot results to be shared and rolled out)
Criteria for approval of Workplaces/Trade Test Centres/Providers
Establishment of a Professional Body for Artisans (like ECSA)
NOTE: - All parties must comply to Regulations: Providers, Employers, Learners, SETAs, etc
- Regulations could be effected as from 1st April 2013 if all goes well

3. Registration and Management of Learning Programme Agreements (LPAs)
SETAs will ensure that LPAs are registered:
Against registered Learnerships at DHET
Within 30 days of completion of forms (forms be correctly completed with supporting documents)
A curriculum already developed & registered by the QCTO
Unemployed learners at the start of Agreement must be given employment contracts
So that all Parties involved meet the requirements and sign the agreements:
Employer falls within the SETA registering and is approved for workplace curriculum component (lead employer ensures compliance to his duties & of other host employers)
Provider is accredited for theoretical and practical curriculum components(lead provider ensures compliance to his duties & of other secondary providers)

4. Registration and Management of LP Agreements…
Altering terms of the Agreement – through mutual agreement by all parties involved
Substituting parties – either employer or providers
Suspending the Agreement – completion date be extended, grant on hold
Terminating Agreement – terminated on good cause/reasons & representation made why not terminate
Certification of learner achievements – trade test results to be reported by NAMB (Assessment Quality Partner) on trades
NAMB to recommend who to be certificated to the QCTO within 10 working days after verifications at Trade Tests Centres

5. Registration and Management of LPA…
Lapsing of Agreements – SETAs to communicate lapsing dates to parties
Employer to notify the SETAs monthly (for six months) about the learner’s employment status after lapsing
Disputes (quality of training, payments, etc) to be referred to the SETA that registered Agreement
If a dispute is not settled with 21 working days – to be escalated to QCTO/NAMB
All Records be kept by SETAs : agreements, payments, alterations, rejections/terminations and reasons thereof
Employers will report the employment status of learners after completion of a LPA
Transitional Arrangements – SETAs will continue to do the work as is until QCTO takes over fully

6. LP AGREEMENT:ANNEXURE A: LPA Format for various Programmes – See page 12- 21)
Few points highlighted:
The CHIETA will incorporate 7 Steps to Artisanship in the Agreement and communicate/workshop this to all relevant parties
2.1.1 Induction to the learners (proof thereof required) – Step 1
2.2.2 learner to comply with employer’s workplace policies and procedures – must be informed and given these upfront (during induction)
2.2.4 complete time sheets/attendance registers – proof kept
2.4.3 Employers to provide supervision/mentoring/coaching at work – ratios of coach: learner to be provided
2.4.4 Employers to release learners to attend off-the –job training during normal working hours
2.4.6 Employers: keep up to date records of workplace learning & discuss progress with learners regularly
2.4.9 Disciplinary, grievance etc procedures applied the same to learners & employees (learners must be informed upfront)
2.6.5 Providers to issue statement of Results for internal assessment & QCTO to issue Certificates after external assessments (trade tests)

7. DISCUSSIONS AND COMMENTS
Entry Requirements into Trade (Grade 9 or N1, ABET 4 with Maths) – not finalised
RPL Pilot being finalised to replace Section 28 – the CHIETA will develop a model and share with all relevant parties (for 2013 cycle)

8. Trade Test Regulations
NAMB: the custodian of all Trade Tests and related processes/criteria – central control
Application for a Trade Test:
A standard Application Form submitted to any QCTO accredited trade test centre
After a successful achievement of minimum education and all curriculum components OR approved PoE for RPL candidate
Compliance to medical/legal requirements of the trade (Step 1)
Trade Test date be issued within 5 working days
Pre- Trade Test evaluation (screening)
Be conducted if the curriculum or PoE was completed 3 years or more - (less than 3 years no need for pre-evaluation)
Pre-evaluation and trade test instruments be reviewed by NAMB every 3 years (with QCTO) & relevant Industries (changes in technology)

9. Trade Test Regulations…
Trade Test fees and rules - be determined annually by Director General in line with QCTO Fee Structure Policy before 31 March
Exemptions – be part of the curriculum
Credit Accumulation
3 attempts be granted – will write different tasks in which was declared NYC in 50% of tasks (if tasks were not greatly changed)
if NYC after 3 attempts cooling period of 6 months with proof of gap training must be provided

10. Trade Test Regulations…
Schedules, M&E, Reporting & Certification:
All Trade test dates be placed on schedules
Trade test schedules (prescribed schedule format) be submitted to NAMB/SETA 1st day of the month by trade test centres – also enable unscheduled visits (QA)
Trade test centres to submit trade test results once a week – Fridays
Schedules and results to be reported monthly by NAMB to SETAs, DHET, QCTO, Forums
NAMB recommend certification of competent learners within 10 working days after QA/verifications at centres
Learners who are not on trade tests schedules: NAMB will NOT recommend for certification
Certificates issued as per QCTO Certification Policy
Appeals – done within 21 days of results issued

11. Trade Test Regulations…
Transitional arrangements ( activities continue with SETAS until QCTO takes over fully)- building up for implementation:
Minimum level of education is 50% in Maths Grade 9 until new QCTO curricula are implemented
No Section 28 trade test applications, but DHET RPL process to be used (RPL Pilot finalised and to be shared for roll out)
All centres accredited by SETAs will be deemed accredited for 3 years until audited by the QCTO through NAMB (delegated)
NB: Criteria for accreditation/monitoring of Trade Test Centres will be standardised – currently there are different practices across SETAs

12. DISCUSSIONS AND COMMENTS
Page: 2.1 c. Medical compliance should be determined at the beginning of a programme ( & monitored throughout) – not at trade test time

13. 7 STEPS TO ARTISANSHIP
A national effort to standardise Artisan Development:
STEP 1: Career Guidance
STEP 2: Knowledge Component
STEP 3: Learner Programme Registration and Grant Funding
STEP 4: Practical Component
STEP 5: Workplace Learning
STEP 6: Trade Testing
STEP 7: Quality Assurance and Certification

14. Step 1
STEP
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Career Guidance
Develop and distribute information and marketing booklets on trades – with career pathing for artisans (prior to and after trade test)
Raise awareness among youth to select artisan development
Support qualified artisans to grow their career
Develop a system for registration of practicing artisans
Ongoing evaluations: trends and skills needs for Artisans
Pre-evaluation/assessment and Interview
Candidates Personal Details
Orientation/Induction
Certificate of Fitness
Internal Company Data Capturing System

15. Step 2 Knowledge Component
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Knowledge Component
Capacity building of FET Colleges to improve the quality of delivery (Theoretical Component) & closer collaboration with Industry (workplace exposure)
Well equipped FET Colleges
On-going development/involvement of Education and Training staff
Monitor and report on the delivery and capacity within the system
Curriculum of knowledge component for each trade
in line with current:
 N2 Maths, Science and two other Trade related Subjects
Standardised learning materials

16. Step 3 Learner Programme Registration and Grant Funding
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS   
Learner Programme Registration and Grant Funding
 Single Funding Model :
Incentivise for increased artisan development for learners in structured programmes and RPL
All Learners must have agreements secured with employers
Guiding Regulations: Learning Programmes and Funding Model
A standardised Learning Programme Agreement with clear time frames (start and end dates: trade test and certification)

17. Step 4 Practical Component
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Practical Component
Support required from employers to ensure alignment with industry
Capacity building of FET Colleges to improve the quality of delivery (Practical Component) & closer collaboration with Industry (workplace exposure)
Monitor and report on the delivery within the system
Curriculum of Practical component for each trade with relevant tools and equipment lists
Standardised learning materials!

18. Step 5 Workplace Learning
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Workplace Learning
Standardised requirements on workplace coaches (ratios)
Employers to open up their facilities to provide workplace experience – remove bottlenecks where possible and incentivise
Partnerships amongst employers where possible (one or multiple workplace sites)
Monitoring and reporting on the capacity within the system
Support the assessment processes for Phase testing within the workplace components
A standardised logbook framework per trade
Standardised workplace approval requirements

19. Step 6
STEP
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Trade Testing
Centralised control (NAMB) with multiple accredited centres across the country
Database of qualified artisans
(placement status after qualified)
On-going improvements on trade testing systems and best practices (research/surveys of global trends
Guiding Trade Test Regulations
Format for Trade test schedules
A Standardised Trade Test Application (3 attempts)
Assessment and Moderation
Guidelines on Appeals
Databank of trade test tasks

20. Step 7 Quality Assurance and Certification
DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS
Quality Assurance and Certification
A system for monitoring and external moderation
Criteria for recommendation of certification
Certificate (SETA or QCTO)
These steps to be incorporated into the Learning Programme Agreement: From commencement to certification!

21. Other Key Updates
Mini Task Team: Board Functional committee (employers, providers, labour, Board Rep)- engage the employers to make every workplace a training place & partner with FET Colleges – increase intake of Apprentices – they could visit your organisations soon!
Intake of apprenticeships is still on the lower side of the scale!
The CHIETA National Artisan Skills Competition is well underway (inaugural/pilot):
Three trades for this pilot (comparatively trades with highest intake):
Electrician
Fitter
Instrumentation
Round 1 assessments: 29 October (hosted by various organisations (WCAPE: PETROSA & Northlink: Wingfield – thank you for support & participation)
Round 2 assessments: Feb 2013
Round 3 assessments: May 2013

22. Competition Stats SummaryNO
CRITERIA
TOTAL NUMBERS 1
Total No. of applications Received
321 2
Total No. in all Trades
Electrician
115
Fitter
158
Instrumentation 48 3
Total No. in all Regions
Gauteng(Limpopo, Nelspruit)
174
Western Cape (Mosselbay,East London) 82
KZN 65 4
Total No. Females 66 5
Total No. Males
255
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