PROJECT AMABELE

Although the Grain Silo Industry has always focused strongly on up-skilling of their staff and most of the current employees have been participants in learning interventions related to their competencies, employees have yet to receive a formal qualification registered on the South African National Qualifications Framework. The Grain Silo Industry made a strategic decision to embark on a process to recognise the prior learning and experience of all its employees.

After evaluating a Project Proposal regarding this Industry initiative, AgriSETA allocated discretionary funds enabling the development and testing/piloting of this Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) Model, called Project Amabele. Deloitte Consulting (Pty) Ltd was contracted by the Grain Silo Industry (GSI) (Pty) Ltd to project manage, design and develop this innovative eRPL Model.

Through this intervention, a uniquely designed computer based “eRPL” Tool is being developed, customised for the grain silo industry, through which recognition of employees’ competence against nationally recognised unit standards can be conducted. All aspects of this eRPL Model will be tested in order to ensure that it meets quality assurance standards.

The National Certificate: Grain Handling NQF Level 2 SAQA ID 20151, will be used to test all aspects of this RPL Model. This qualification is particularly suitable for a pilot project of this nature since it consists of relevant unit standards at NQF 1, 2 and 3, allowing learners easy access to continuous learning following the RPL.

The eRPL Tool is unique in design as it enables assessment of literate, semi- and illiterate learners, using vocal, written and visual evidence collection. An 80/20 assessment principle forms part of the Amabele eRPL Model. Grain Industry Specialist Assessors will conduct workplace assessments, completing electronically collected evidence.

Consultation and validation with the Industry’s Subject Matter Experts, AgriSETA and other relevant stakeholders, forms an integral part of the process. In rolling this project out nationally, all parties involved, aim to ensure that the integrity of assessing against unit standards is protected in such a way that it encourages confidence and learning prospects with learners.

The eRPL Tool is learner-centred, easy to use and supports the concept of lifelong-learning linked to career-pathing within the Industry. The Amabele project is designed in such a manner that it will provide support systems for learners embarking on the RPL process, including pre-assessment advice, counselling, assessment preparation, self evaluation and post assessment support.

Roll out of the Amabele Pilot Project is planned for early April 2007 at six sites across the country, involving + 20 learners per site. The successful application of this Model will not only result in time and cost savings to employers during the Recognition of Prior Learning process but also providing a protected, comfortable experience for Learners to perform at their highest ability! Lessons learnt from this pilot project will not only enable AgriSETA and the Grain Silo Industry (GSI) (Pty) Ltd to apply this Model to all Grain Silo Industry qualifications, but also across the Agricultural Sector.

The Grain Silo Industry (GSI)
Project Representative: Mr Dirk Kok        CEO: Mr Piet Louw

SUCCESSFUL LITERACY PROGRAMME AT FOUNTAINHILL

One of the first farms in South Africa to establish a staff training centre is also one of the country’s most successful adult learning sites, with dedicated facilitators and enthusiastic learners. That’s according to Rob Gaspar of adult education company Media Works. In early 2005, Fountainhill Estate in KwaZulu Natal became the first farm in the province to establish a learning centre. This was as a result of the collaboration and support from AgriSETA, Media Works KZN and Fountainhill Estate.

The 3 000 hectare sugar cane, avocado and beef farm is owned by the Taeuber family, who set up the staff training centre in order to address the pressing and relevant issue of personal skills development for their employees. According to Keith Taeuber, “We wish to encourage a spirit of ‘Life Long Learning’, in line with Government’s national policy on Skills Development and Education, and Employment Equity.”
Taeuber adds, “We have been absolutely amazed at the difference that the Media Works Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) material and the computers have made in the lives of the learners. Their progress has been incredible! Staff are motivated than before as they now have an opportunity to achieve something with their lives, to finish their schooling and to empower themselves.”

Gaspar concludes: “The managers at Fountainhill Estate are very committed to ensuring that the culture of learning prevails at all times. The training facilities are outstanding, with the latest programmes and training methodologies. It is incredibly inspiring to visit the site and experience such positive energy from every single person involved in the process, including the learners, the trainers and management at Fountainhill.”

AGRISETA ROADSHOWS

Follow up to the AgriSETA conference held in October 2006 focussing on Scarce & Critical Skills, workshops were held nationally to inform stakeholders in the agricultural sector. During the months of February and March 2007, AgriSETA stakeholders participated in information sessions held in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng and the Free State.

Altogether 240 stakeholders, who included Skills Development Facilitators, Training Providers and other interested parties, attended the information sessions.

The Roadshow firstly aimed to inform stakeholders on the Scarce and Critical skills shortages identified within the agri sector and secondly, the way in which funding would in future be allocated to assist stakeholders to focus on addressing these skills shortages.

AgriSETA Training Providers at the S & C workshop held in Pretoria

 
The AgriSETA Scarce and Critical Skills Guide Brochure was also launched and distributed amongst participants at the sessions. This Scarce and Critical Skills Guide highlight the major skills identified as scarce and critical within the agri sector. The intention of the information session and the Skills Guide was to attempt to achieve a debate in the sector on scarce and critical skills and bring the issues to the table. For a full view of the Scarce and Critical Skills listed within AgriSETA, visit the Sector Skills Plan (especially Chapter 4) on the AgriSETA website www.agriseta.co.za (Skills Planning menu).

The AgriSETA also gave feedback on two major initiatives launched last year, that of learning material developed for the qualifications in the primary sector and the ABET programme implementation.

The stakeholders were introduced to the learning materials developed for the 10 qualifications in Plant Production (Levels 1-4), Animal Production (Levels 1-4) and Mixed Farming (Levels 1-2). The learning material developed is outcome based, interactive, unit standard aligned and consists of learner workbooks and guides, facilitator’s guides and assessor guides. The material is public domain and therefore available to a wide range of stakeholders. Due to the generic nature, it allows training providers and other users to contextualise learner activities, the environment, assessment approach and methods and make it appropriate to commodity specifics, Agri practices and markets and enterprise operating procedures. In total, learning materials for 151 modules will be available on the AgriSETA website. (Learning Material Development).

Stakeholders also received feedback on the computer assisted ABET programme. The presentation focused on the contributions made by the various role-players namely the Stakeholder, the SETA and the Training provider, Media Works. The major challenges facing the SETA were discussed and stakeholders were requested to assist the SETA with ABET implementation.


Click here for the Scarce & Critical Skills presentation from the roadshow (ABET Media Works and Primary Sector Learning Material). Hard copies of the Scarce and Critical Skills Guide can be obtained from the AgriSETA head office.

MANDATORY GRANTS

A reminder the final submission date for Mandatory Grants will be on 30^th June 2007. Kindly read the important notice regarding the submission of the Mandatory Grants. Click here to read the important notice. Enquiries regarding the Workplace Skills Plan and ATR’s can be forwarded to Amandie Gerber amandie@agriseta.co.za or Racquel Bergman racquel@agriseta.co.za

CONTACT:

Tel:  (012) 325 1655
Fax: (012) 325 1624/77
Email: info@agriseta.co.za
Website: http://www.agriseta.co.za