Over the next six days, apprentices from nine countries will be battling it out in 16 skills categories at WorldSkills Africa in Namibia.
Ceajay Bosman (20), a second-year automotive motor mechanic apprentice of the Port Elizabeth TVET College, will proudly be representing South Africa at WorldSkills Africa, which runs from March 28 to April 2.
“The competition’s main goal is to achieve personal development, allowing individuals gainful employment, socio-economic development of a country, and improving skilled workforce that leads to a cohesive society, ” notes Dr Kipkirui Lang’at, TVET Authority director general and CEO of WorldSkills Kenya. He said the event showcases competence acquisition. “It is based on industry occupational standards and brings the youth together to test and confirm their ability.”
Bosman, who is currently doing his occupational certificate: automotive motor mechanic at the Iqhayiya campus, has been accompanied to Namibia by college lecturer Gerhard Pretorius, who is one of the lecturers currently being trained by the German Chamber of Crafts (Handwerskammer (HWK)).
The partnership between HWK Erfurt Germany and eight of the TVET colleges in the Eastern Cape region has made incredible inroads over the last 12 months in uplifting teachers’ training skills with the support of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), a much-valued partner in the venture.
“Access to international trends through the German Craft Chamber is invaluable for apprentices, particularly in an environment where skills are valued and provide businesses with a competitive advantage. The more teachers we can train, the more apprentices we can help pull through the system, and this bodes well for the future of our sector,” said RMI’s training manager, Louis van Huyssteen.
Pretorius said the automotive motor mechanic trade is one of 13 trades of the national Department of Higher Education’s Centre of Specialisation programme.
Bosman is one of two apprentices who will compete this year. Another third-year apprentice, Ernst Beneke, will also compete in September in the South African National competition for inclusion in Team SA for the 46th WorldSkills competition taking place in Shanghai in October this year.
Source: Cathy Findley PR
