By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – DISABLED students in South Africa have received a major boost following a partnership between the Sparrow Combined Technical Skills School and the Gauteng Department of Education to pioneer a programme to assist these disadvantaged members of the community to enter the job market.
The four-year educational qualification, called General Certificate of Education: Technical Occupational, is registered with the Higher Education Standards Authority (SETA) and Umalusi, the private schools registration and quality assurance body.
The NQF Level 1 Qualification is equivalent to Grade 9 and allows access to NQF level 2 courses at colleges.
Warren Thompson, Learner Support Unit (LSU) Manager of Sparrow Schools, says: “We are proud to partner with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in this unique, collaborative programme.”
Thompson says the programme will provide those with barriers to learning with a chance to join the world of work.
“The pilot programme kicked off in February this year and the first graduates are expected in 2020.
“During this period we will fine tune the curriculum and assess progress, enabling us to offer the accredited technical skills qualification throughout South Africa.”
The curriculum comprises compulsory language studies in English and Zulu, Mathematics and Life Skills. Learners then choose technical skills subjects in either business, commerce and management; health sciences and social services; hospitality and civil technology: woodwork and timber.
One of the unique selling points of the programme is the provision of prospective employers with a profile of learners competencies and skills matrix.
Firms who participate in the programme have a pool of learners to employ as interns and later as job entrants.
– CAJ News