UNTIL last week, a Mtubatuba engine fitting apprentice beyond his final year faced a bleak future as there was no accredited testing centre or invigilator available to him throughout the country.
The story of the apprentice, who wished to remain anonymous, was taken to Herman Oosthuizen, Client Liaison Officer in the KZN’s Regional Office of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) in Durban.
It was explained that, through no fault of his own, the apprentice is effectively a fifth-year ‘appy’ on a fourth year salary and, despite his employer going to great lengths to have his own workshop and three staff members accredited, the official body refused to issue the accreditation.
Owing to changes in legislature, the responsibility of quality assuring trades was moved from MERSETA to NAMB (National Artisan Moderations Body), which has done away with apprentices undertaking trade tests at their places of work.
Only NAMB-accredited centres can host trade tests.
Talk of re-opening an old centre in Stanger was not accepted by the apprentice, whose year-long apprenticeship extension would be long over once the centre was ready.
After taking the matter to the MERSETA Senior Quality Manager, Oosthuizen last week had some good news.
The AA Technical College in Midrand, Johannesburg, is now a NAMB accredited trade testing centre for engine fitting.
The good news was passed on to both the apprentice and his employer in Mtubatuba.
While the testing centre is far from the apprentice’s place of work, the trade of engine fitting is not engaged in regularly, with only two such registrations in KZN during the last two years.
Moreover, pre-1994 the Olifantsfontein testing centre was the only one for all trades in the country.
Today, there about 12 testing facilities for various trades in KZN.
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