Step 1: Career Guidance and Management
The implementation of an effective career guidance and management system for trade occupations is essential to ensure that persons wishing to become artisans, especially young people, fully understand the possibilities, scope and activities of artisans within industry. A system has been implemented to provide information and market artisan careers amongst South Africans to ensure sufficient entrance of learners into artisan trade occupations. Effective career guidance ensures that entrants will have made informed career choices and career management will facilitate progression to artisan status and beyond into technician and engineering related occupations. As part of the career management, a professional registration process to enhance the status of artisans will also be implemented allowing artisan career development opportunities. Career guidance will include applicability, aptitude an a sustainability which is amongst other things medical examinations since many artisan trades are physically demanding. This will ensure a maximum throughput for each of the three occupational learning steps – occupational knowledge, practical and workplace. Furthermore if supported by entrepreneurial and business management skills, qualified artisans are able to start up their own small businesses that could have a large impact on unemployment and job creation. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is the coordinating agency for the national artisan advisory and career guidance services, utilizing the Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges and other partners infrastructure on a national basis to ensure effective reach and accessibility to all citizens. As the national system is implemented resources in a variety of media will be developed for each and every artisan trade in South Africa.
NEXT: Step 2: General or Vocational or Fundamental Knowledge Learning