In the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training, Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, articulates a vision of a post-school education and training system, where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges (previously Further Education and Training (FET) colleges) are the institution of choice, for the majority of young South Africans.
“When our Minister came forward and said Setas need to work very closely with TVET colleges this presented a challenge for Fasset. Since employers in our sector traditionally hire graduates, or people with postgraduate qualifications, Fasset has historically had limited interaction and collaboration with public TVET Colleges,” Fasset CEO, Cheryl James explains.
Recognising that Fasset has a responsibility not only to employers within in its sector, but to the broader economy as a whole, to ensure that finance and accounting-related education and training is fit for purpose, Fasset has launched four TVET College projects.
The first project, the TVET Qualification Mapping and Analysis Projectwill undertake an analysis of the National Nated (N) Diploma Financial Management to ensure that the qualification is fit for purpose in terms of its scope, and level.
“This approach is aligned to the White Paper which stresses the importance of ensuring that the curriculum responds to local market needs. We recognise that if Fasset is to successfully integrate TVET College learners into the Fasset sector skills pipeline, learners must be equipped with skills that meet employers’ needs,” James observes.
The project will also explore possible opportunities for credit transfer between this qualification and other qualifications within the scope of Fasset’s quality assurance.
The second project, the TVET Learner Enrichment Project seeks to enhance and support the Life Orientation module as part of the curriculum of the National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF level 4. Two workshops will be conducted at Waterberg TVET College, Tshwane North College, Ekurhuleni West College and Sekhukhune TVET College. Around 2 000 learners will benefit.
“Learners will be taught how to compile a CV, how to apply for a position, how to prepare for and conduct themselves during an interview. They will also be taught ethics, governance, office etiquette and business writing. In addition, learners will be advised how they can enhance and complement the qualifications which they are currently completing,” she reveals.
The third project, the TVET College Professional Qualification and Lecturer Capacity Building Project, seeks to capacitate a TVET College to deliver a qualification related to the Fasset sector. “As the lead Seta at two TVET Colleges in Limpopo, Fasset has partnered with the Waterberg TVET College,” James discloses.
The Association of Accounting Technicians (SA) is assisting Waterberg TVET College to achieve accreditation status to offer its NQF level 3 Certificate: Accounting Technician. The qualification will be delivered to 20 TVET learners, 5 lecturers, and 10 support staff. Upon successful completion of the qualification, learners will be placed with employers to obtain work experience.
The fourth project, the TVET Learner Work-Based Experience Placement Project, targets learners, who have completed the N6 Certificate in Business Studies. The project will assist TVET learners to achieve their National N Diploma through completion of the 18-months work experience requirement. It will also provide TVET learners with work experience relevant to their qualification. “Most importantly, the project will expose stakeholder employers to alternative recruitment sources,” James notes.
While working very closely with TVET Colleges is pioneering work for Fasset, James says Fasset is really looking forward to deepening its relationships with TVET Colleges. “We are very cognisant of the fact that Setas have a critical role to play in facilitating workplace partnerships between employers and TVET Colleges. We embrace this role and are committed to supporting and capacitating TVET Colleges, so that young school leavers acquire mid-level skills, aligned to employer needs, which our economy needs,” James concludes.
