Context
In parts of its economy, South Africa has increasingly transformed itself into a modern industrial state, which contributes substantially to the gross domestic product of the African continent. This is true even though its economic growth has been declining steadily since 2014. Moreover, South Africa's core problems such as poverty, inequality, corruption, a lack of qualified specialists despite high (youth) unemployment and weaknesses in the entire education system are becoming increasingly serious.
The core problem in the sector is the low quality of vocational education and training, which is not seen as a task for society as a whole, neither the state nor the economy. Reasons behind it include but are not limited to the low practical orientation of training courses, the lack of skills of vocational training personnel at TVET colleges and companies, and the limited trust between government and industry in cooperation based on shared responsibility.
Objective
The aim is to improve the quality of vocational education and training in South Africa in terms of its relevance to the labour market. This orientation is geared towards employment and income - especially for the majority of the population who are not part of the educational elite and are economically disadvantaged.
Approach
The Skills Development for a Green Economy II (SD4GE II) supports a structural change towards more employment-oriented dual training approaches in South Africa.
The programme aims to create a sustainable basis for cooperation between these stakeholders. To achieve this end, it supports:
• Concerted collaboration between private and public stakeholders to promote dual training approaches.
• The implementation of the South African Dual System Pilot Project (DSPP), Centres of Specialisation (CoS) and dual short courses (Installation, Repair and Maintenance Initiative (IRM)as part of the Job Summit commitments, and its transfer to the national vocational education and training system as a regular delivery mechanism.
• The strengthening of the capacity of VET personnel (TVET lecturers and managers) as well as company mentors and HR personnel from companies to run dual occupational training programmes.
Results
• Nearly 240 apprentices (electricians; plumbers) are currently undergoing a 3-year dual occupational programme in 70 training companies and 5 TVET colleges.
• Next apprenticeship intakes will begin in the 2nd half of 2019.
• The DSPP experience plays a key role in the CoS (Center of Specialisation), which is regarded as a South African system reform project and provides for dual vocational education and training for 13 trades.
• Further training for TVET college lecturers including coaching, mentoring, peer-learning etc. in areas of vocational pedagogy, didactics and methodology as well as in technologies is provided on an ongoing basis.
• In order to strengthen the management capacities of TVET college management to implement dual training programmes, a cooperation with the University of Pretoria and Technical University of Munich has been initiated to jointly develop a Post Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDip).
• To strengthen in-company mentor training capacities, a modular training programme specifically geared to the needs of SME is being developed, in collaboration with 14 industry and professional associations representing more than 15,000 companies.
• The cooperation with industry is an integral part of SD4GE II which has taken shape in 3 forms: an MoU on Areas of Cooperation with AHK (Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry); cooperation with the National Business Initiative (NBI) on short-courses; and an integrated Development Partnership with the Private Sector with SAR Electronic SA for the implementation of an integration programme for the transition to (high tech) employment of graduates of dual occupational programmes.