WCIF has been successfully training workers within the industry since 1994 on an eight module training programme (from now on it will be called the Industry Skills programme). The modules include; 1Casting, 2Core and Coremaking, 3Fettling, 4Metallurgy, 5Moulding, 6Productivity and Production Planning, 7Quality and 8Supervisory Skills. As can be seen this training covers a broad spectrum of activities in the foundry works. At Atlantis workers that are interested in moving into a supervisory position have to complete this course. It should be recognised that workers take about 2½ years to complete this programme. SAIF acquired this programme in order to offer the same opportunity for the foundries in Gauteng. In this context it is also important to look at recognition of prior learning for those workers that do not have any qualification but have experience in the industry for many years.
Achieved to date
Prior to FY 2009/10 WCIF already trained 507 workers in their province (not only for themselves). SAIF acquired the skills programme in 2010/11; since then WCIF trained 70 workers and SAIF 120 workers, therefore 190 nationally for the past financial year.
Planned activities for 2011/12
At least Eighty (80) workers that started training in the previous FY should continue with other modules. An additional Fifty (50) new workers should enter the programme, therefore in total a number of one hundred and thirty (130) workers trained. Although WCIF has MerSETA accreditation only three (3) unit standards within the programme, the intention is to register at least two skills programmes against the SAQA FOQ [Foundry Operations Qualification (the qualification shall be further discussed under T5)] in 2011/12. A skills programme is an extract from a qualification with a unit standard assessment, consisting of at least 30 credits.
Currently the foundry industry only has 4 accredited assessors/moderators which cause a bottleneck in assessing learners/workers that go through MerSETA accredited training programmes. In 2011/12 an addition five (5) assessors/moderators should be trained and at least fifteen (15) workers should have started the RPL process.
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