New skills development programme launched

Part of the Intsimbi National Tooling Initiative programme, the event was hosted at Plastics Institute of Southern Africa in Midrand.

The programme is a partnership between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Toolmaking Association of South Africa.

National Tooling Initiative programme CEO Dirk van Dyk told guests that the programme will be offered as a modular part-time course over a period of two years.

Van Dyk said, “The programme is based on the German Master Artisan model and has been moulded to the needs of the South African manufacturing industry. On 20 November the programme was registered with the South African Qualifications Authority [SAQA].”

Van Dyk added that the programme was recruiting new students until end of January 2014. The course would start in March 2014 in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.

“We are targeting 150 students countrywide. Government, through the National Treasury and DTI, is funding R150 000 per student to complete the course,” he said.

DTI representative, Tapiwa Samanga said, “Government is assured that the outcomes of this programme will be worthwhile. When we started out, funding was a challenge, but now students will benefit from the programme and have a SAQA-approved toolmaker apprenticeship qualification.”

Entry requirements for the programme are an NQF level 4 mechanical engineering qualification or higher, plus a toolmaker trade or equivalent training with at least four years experience in one of the specialised fields.

Van Dyk said, “According to the Department of Higher Education, South Africa has had a shortage of 46 000 qualified artisans over the past three years. There is a need for skilled artisans in the country.”