60 day building course not possible
2007-04-12
THE article “Prisoners build houses” in Paarl Post of 4 April is misleading, creating the impression that people can become qualified artisans on all trades of building construction over a short period of time.
The normal duration of a “house building course” is closer to three years as opposed to 60 days.
A learnership programme to qualify a bricklayer, carpenter, painter and other trades requires a minimum of 18 months lectures and skills training.
This includes lectures by the training provider and workplace experience under the supervision of a qualified artisan.
I would imagine that the persons involved were given elementary practical training of some modules of a learnership which eventually may amount to a qualification of some sort within the construction arena.
The initiative of the Department of Correctional Services is welcomed by the building industry in the Boland area and we would gladly consider employment for the trainees, provided the training is accredited and the students passed the required tests, and if the placement of such learners is done via our Skills Development Facilitator.
The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) collects millions from employers in the building industry by way of monthly levies.
Nothing, however, is available for training due to financial and other problems of the CETA. All Learnerships have been placed on hold for the next two years.
Any training that takes place at present is where employers pay for it out of their own pocket, in addition to the monthly levy paid to the CETA.
In this regard, a member of the MBA Boland has embarked on in excess of 25 Learnerships through accredited training providers co-ordinated by our Skills Development Facilitator, Utopian EDT.
Pierre le Roux (executive director)
Master Builders’ Assocation Boland
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