IRTE involvement in training:

Above: Veteran IRTE member, Jack Webster, Ruth and Keith Pilling, Barney and Patsy Curtis

At a recent joint IRTE Centre meeting held in Cape Town at which representatives from the Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban Centres were present, the subject of training in the transport industry was discussed and concern was expressed that the IRTE has no representation on the Standards Generating Body (SGB).

The IRTE UK, to which South African members are affiliated, is the nationally recognised body responsible for the setting of standards of acceptable qualification in the road transport industry.

At the joint meeting, concern was expressed that there is no representation by IRTE members on the proposed SGB as noted in Government Gazette Vol 409. No 20311 dated 30th July 1999. The IRTE, through the Cape Town Centre which holds the portfolio for training on behalf of the institute, is to make representation to the SGB for recognition and representation to this body

Funny man, Phil Wolfaardt, MC for the evening . . . seen with his wife

The IRTE is represented at all levels of legislation policy formulation including the Road Traffic Act and Regulations, the SABS technical committees, and has a positive working relationship with all these bodies

The Skills Development Act No 97 of 1998 is intended: "To provide an institutional framework to devise and implement national, sector and workplace strategies to develop and improve the skills of the South African workforce; to integrate those strategies within the National Qualifications Framework contemplated in the South African Qualifications Authority Act, 1995, to provide for learnerships that lead to recognised occupational qualifications, to provide for the financing of skills development by means of a levy-financing scheme and a National Skills Fund, to provide for and regulate employment services; and to provide for matters connected therewith,"

Above: Paul Kable of Cummins and his wife, Maureen

The rationale of this Act is:

(a) To develop the skills of the South African workforce
(i) To improve the quality of life of workers, their prospects of work and labour mobility.
(ii) To improve productivity in the workplace and the competitiveness of employers.
(iii) To promote self-employment.
(iv) To improve the delivery of social services.

(b) To increase the levels of investment in education and training in the labour market and to improve the return on that investment.

(c) To encourage employers to use the workplace as an active learning environment:
(ii) To provide employees with the opportunities to acquire new skills.
(iii) To provide opportunities for new entrants to the labour market to gain work experience
(iv) To employ persons who find it difficult to be employed.

(d) To encourage workers to participate in leadership and other training programs.

(e) To improve the employment prospects of persons previously disadvantaged by unfair discrimination and to redress those disadvantages through training and education.

(f) To ensure the quality of education and training in and for the workplace.

(g) To assist work-seekers to find work
(i) Retrenched workers to re-enter the labour market.
(ii) Employers to find qualified employees.

(h) To provide and regulate employment services.

Vic Oliver of Nissan with his wife Mary

Those purposes are to be achieved by:
(a) Establishing an institutional and financial framework comprising
(i) The National Skills Authority.
(ii) The National Skills Fund.
(iii) A skills development levy-financing scheme as contemplated in the Skills

Development Levies Act.
(iv) SEATAs
(v) Labour centres
(vi) The Skills Development Planning Unit
(b) Encouraging partnerships between the public and private sectors of the economy to provide education and training in and for the workplace.

(c) Co-operating with the South African Qualifications Authority.

Joe Mokwala, Regional Office Manager, Cummins Corporation, Southern Africa

Currently SGB 11, which is responsible for standards within the transport industry, complies with the requirements of the Act but it has missed the spirit of consultation by not ensuring that all stakeholders were approached. This inclusion does not only affect professional bodies like the IRTE but also the transporters of hazardous products and other specialised categories.

The IRTE is concerned that the current composition of the proposed SGB consists of too many academics without the necessary industry experience in formulating workable relevant training courses.

The Government Gazette Vol. 416, No 20919, dated 22nd February 2000, lays out the training outcomes for a National Certificate in Professional Driving. Once the candidate has reached the NQF level 3, they will qualify for a managerial position, which the industry may or may not absorb.

The IRTE is concerned that with inappropriate representation, the proposed skills development modules will not meet the practical requirements of the industry

The IRTE questions the viability of the professional driver ultimately meeting the proposed standards and is concerned that many drivers who would otherwise qualify as excellent would not aspire to meet the ultimate prescribed qualification.

It is hoped that the representation by the IRTE Cape Centre will result in the Institute being accepted and recognised on the Standards Generating Bodies for all transport related matters.