NTIP hosts Awards Ceremony for future Toolmakers
On Tuesday, 30 September 2014, National Tooling Initiative Programme (NTIP) hosted the first of 10 awards ceremonies for students in Kempton Park, Gauteng province who participated in the three year Apprenticeship Programme.
The NTI programme is a strategic growth stimulator for manufacturing and technical skills development initiative put together by government through the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and the Toolmaking Association of South Africa (TASA). The programme powered by Tool Die Mouldmaking (TDM) is a competency-based model which focuses on both skilling and On-the-job training for the learners.
Manufacturing provides consumers with virtually all products that they use in everyday life and creates economic growth, employment and wealth.
The objective of the Award Function is to celebrate the students’ achievements within the Tool, Die and Mouldmaking Programme. The students attended a three year Apprenticeship Programme which they have now concluded with the exception of their Trade Test.
This awards ceremony was a culmination of three years Apprenticeship Programme; now registered as the new Toolmaker (91796) qualification requires that a candidate successfully completes the following:
• Knowledge modules (trade theory subjects),
• Practical Skills modules, and
• Workplace Experience modules presented by an approved employer.
The programme started with 70 students in 2011. Today 54 of those will receive their certificates. That is a success rate of 77%. The TDM Powered Skills Development Programme currently hosting a total of 60 students in the Apprenticeship Programmes in the province. The partnership between the Coega Development Corporation and NTIP started in 2010 with the Gauteng’s first Foundation Level students, who were selected to do the Apprenticeship Programme.
The CEO of NTIP, Dirk van Dyk took time to share inspirational words with the students and encouraged them to further improve their skills and always remember to “apply their skills with pride”. Van Dyk, further indicated that the National Tooling Initiative has succeeded in establishing strategic partnerships which have seen more industry members and employers within its scope coming on board to offer their workplaces for the TDM Powered Programme Students.
Mr Tapiwa Samanga from the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) emphasised that since the inception of the programme in 2009, invested about R500 million in to the programme. “This programme is in line with government plans of empowerment. To date the average Toolmaker is 55, male and white, the aim of this programme is to empower individuals of all races in to afield that was predominantly for white males.” He added that to empower people is not to put them in higher positions but to give them the skills needed for them to thrive in their respective workplace. He ended the note with congratulating the students on their achievements.
Ms. Mmmachoene Makgakga, a student of the TDM Powered Programme and currently employed in the TDM industry, indicated that the programme as given them opportunities to explore careers in fields that they were not exposed to before this programme. “It is with great pride to stand here before you all and share our experiences with you. It has been a great journey and we would like to thank the NTIP’s CEO and his team for their commitment in our skills development programme.”