Toward a Skilled Workforce
Abstract:
This article contextualises some of the problems inherent in Education today, and asserts that the National Qualifications Framework, Skills Development Bill and Co-operative Education can be used as mechanisms to accelerate transformation, turning institutions into viable, sustainable and vibrant institutions which maximise the development and potential of each and every learner by providing confidant, skilled personnel to the globally competitive marketplace.
It is argued that co-operative education makes it possible for the goals and objectives of the NQF and SDB to be realised. This however, is easier said than done. How does a country beleaguered first by Colonialism and then Apartheid, rise to the performance levels of the so-called developed, highly industrialised and technologically advanced countries of Europe, America and the emergent giant, Asia?
Mammoth social problems confront us in Africa. Poverty, unemployment, disease, Aids, illiteracy are a few of the realities in this part of the world. The need to survive is paramount, yet now, survival is linked to globalisation.
For cooperative education to be successful, a happy medium between institution, industry and student, that benefits all parties, needs to be implemented., with proper procedures, policies, guidelines that are explicit to all concerned. This tripartite alliance can only be achieved once the needs and priorities of the three stakeholders are taken cognisance of.
The most obvious benefit is that co-operative education will ensure employment, and also self-employment and small business development, the latter two being major issues in globalisation. For Africa to be an important contributor to the global economy, phenomenal investments in education must be the norm. There is a general consensus nowadays that Universities are not the solutions to Africa’s problems, but that investments in primary and technical education are. South Africa for its’ part is moving towards a knowledge based economy and is no longer predominantly reliant on mining. The demands of the twenty first century are for an information and knowledge based economy. The IT revolution has begun and sound co-operative education programmes in technikons combine the essential components of information and technology.
This paper aims to outline what has been done at the M L Sultan Technikon, what is currently being done, and what the Department of Co-operative Education aims to do to address all of
these issues.Author:
Vasantha Pillay
Vasantha Pillay
1953 : Born Durban, South Africa
1971 : Completed High School education
1974 ; National Diploma: Art and Design - M L Sultan Technikon
1984 : Occupied various positions in the Fashion Design and Clothing Industry
1984 : Appointed Lecturer,Fashion Design Dept,M L Sultan Technikon
1989 : National Higher Diploma: Education - University of Natal
1992 : Appointed Senior Lecturer, Fashion Design Dept, M L Sultan Technikon
1998 : B A (Hons) Clothing - Manchester Metrolpoitan University
2001 : Appointed Cooperative Education Coordinator for the Faculty of Arts- M L Sultan Technikon