New initiatives address transport industry's training needs

Leonard Neill
THE GROUNDWORK has been laid by the Transport Education and Training Authority (Teta) for the launch of three new initiatives aimed at enhancing fundamental skills in the clearing and forwarding industry, says Teta's Forwarding and Clearing Chamber executive officer Victor Muhlberg
Under the classification of financial lifeskills training, some 175 lower and middle income employees are to attend a two and a half day programme concentrating on making ends meet, buying wisely, getting rid of debt and growing money.
The chamber will also put 125 industry employees through ABET literacy and numeracy training. Candidates for this will be selected through a process of assessment and will receive a South African Qualifications Act (SAQA) certificate after the year-long course.
"With the imminent launch of the pilot scheme in the industry, the chamber will initiate the training of 40 assessors and 60 expert witnesses," says Muhlberg. "These projects address needs identified by the industry and are a first for our chamber."
The chamber recently completed a two-month job profiling project for the ships agency and broking industry, aimed at paving the way for the creation of unit standards and qualifications.
The project, run in cooperation with the Association of Ships' Agents and Brokers of Southern Africa (ASABOSA), resulted in job profiles and competence matrices for 40 positions. The information, which was drawn from focus group workshops and interviews, will be considered by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Shipbrokers' qualifications structure.