While National TVET Month may have ended on August 31, technical and vocational training remains high on the agenda as applications open at most TVET colleges across the country for students. of 2023.
Empowering young people with skills and knowledge is an essential activity to build and maintain the economy of any society. This has been the driving force behind an image campaign being carried out through a TVET partnership project between the Handwerkskammer Erfurt (HWK), the Organization of the Automotive Retail Industry (RMI) and the TVET institutions in the Eastern Cape, financed through the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ).
“While we often think of schools, colleges, and universities as educational institutions, vocational skills like auto mechanics, hairdressing, or plumbing, to name just a few, certain practical skills cannot be taught in a classroom, or even at a single TVET university. ”, said Birgit Mac Mahon, resident project manager of HWK.
She said no school can teach what really goes on in an auto repair shop, where young students not only learn how to repair and service cars in a real world environment, but also learn other highly valuable skills, like how to become responsible staff members; how to deal with customers and how to drive cars entrusted by the customer.
Specifically in the automotive sector, private auto workshops play an important role in training young people to become motor mechanics, and with the support of government institutions, the cost of training for workshops can be mitigated with the additional advantage that they can shape their own future. technicians
Finn Auto Repair & Diagnostics in Gqeberha is one such workshop. They have been training young people since 2013 and in cooperation with PE TVET College since 2019. The owner, Jack Finn, currently has three trainees in his workshop. He himself has always been passionate about motor mechanics and is still continuing his own training, following the rapid changes in automotive technology. Together with his wife, Bridget Finn, they decided to cooperate with PE TVET College in a government plan to introduce apprenticeship training at selected TVET colleges. During the three-year apprenticeship, apprentices alternate between university where they are taught theory and practical skills, and their employer to deepen their practical skills and also develop additional skills within the work environment.
“There is no question that these young people still need guidance and the right motivation,” said Jack.
Bridget believes that apprenticeship training is worthwhile for any shop. “We see great value in training young people who can be part of the future of this sector. We love our workshop and by training and working with our own apprentices, they can become our future technicians.”
He stressed the importance of choosing the right candidates so that they can become craftsmen. “With the industry constantly changing and developing, it is important that bodyshops stay abreast of these developments and accept responsibility for passing on their knowledge to the young people who will ultimately drive this industry forward.”
Useful link for applicants:
merSETA Career Guide: https://www.merseta.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/merSETA-Career-Guide-2020.pdf
merSETA Pro Guide Video: https://youtu.be/qZFH7imRYx4
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Career Help: https://www.careerhelp.org.za/
University TVET Career Guide: https://www.dhet.gov.za/SiteAssets/TVET%20Careers%20Guide%202021.pdf
Source: Cathy Findley PR