Employees with a FLC certificate possess sound communication and maths skills. These are the foundational proficiencies that they need to excel in occupational training at NQF Levels 2 and onwards. Refer to National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualifications and unit standards | Western Cape Government.
Many employees are able to perform their jobs well. However, they lack the foundational skills that they need to learn so that they can obtain a national qualification. This stifles their growth and development, while also restricting companies’ ability to upskill their staff. Companies with highly skilled employees have a significant advantage over their competitors and are more responsive to the needs of their customers. They are also able to quickly adapt to change and market trends. For example, plumbers are now expected to also be able to install, maintain, repair and replace “smart plumbing” systems that provide more convenience for customers.
There is also a significant demand for “green plumbing”, which reduces water and energy consumption, from increasingly environmentally conscious property owners. Certainly, this trend is also being driven by the need to reduce reliance on failing municipal systems. Plumbing companies are unable to respond to these trends if their employees are not appropriately skilled. There are also so many new technologies that improve the workmanship of various trades but require sophisticated skills to operate. This further motivates the need to continuously upgrade, hone and refine your employees’ proficiencies. Employees with a FLC certificate are in a position to do so.
Working towards a FLC certificate
Working towards a FLC certificate, employees will be better prepared for occupational training. Once they have completed their apprenticeships, they will also possess skills that are needed for the effective functioning of our society and economy.
Operating across most industries, qualified apprentices help to deliver, operate, maintain and repair critical economic and service-delivery infrastructure. Nowhere near to enough, we are currently producing about 20 000 qualified artisans a year. We need to train at least 10 000 more to cater to the high demand for these skills. In 2017, our government revealed that we needed about 40 000 qualified artisans for time-sensitive construction projects. Research undertaken by Xpatweb a year later revealed that the vast majority of respondents were still struggling to find skills. Refer to NEWS | CRITICAL SKILLS SURVEY RESULTS 2018 | Xpatweb. In particular demand are bricklayers, electricians, millwrights, boilermakers, plumbers, automotive and diesel mechanics, as well as carpenters and joiners. This is in addition to welders, riggers, as well as fitters and turners, including mechanical and pipe fitters.
A robust and vibrant artisanal-based sector will also help to absorb the many unemployed South Africans into the workforce. The South African youth not in education, employment or training rate has been consistently over 30% and it has worsened over the past 10 years. High youth unemployment remains one of the country’s biggest risks. These individuals are prime candidates for apprenticeships. Apprenticeships provide individuals with the opportunity to work for artisan-based companies or for themselves as “own-account workers”. As they grow their businesses they, in turn, will employ people and train them in their trade. Notably, in developed economies, the artisan sector is the largest employer after agriculture. It also provides important and unique skills development opportunities, particularly to women.
FLC certificate is the first step
Obtaining a FLC certificate is the first step taken by your employees towards becoming qualified artisans.
Like so many other countries, South Africa is struggling to train sufficient artisans to drive economic growth and development. Older experienced artisans are retiring. Those between the ages of 30 and 40 are emigrating to countries where their skills are in high demand. They are motivated to do so because they get paid significantly more for their skills and experience than they do here. Certainly, there are other reasons for the mass exodus of skilled and experienced South Africans from the country that need to be addressed. These include corruption; a marked decline in basic services; high levels of crime; load shedding; political instability; and an underperforming economy. Therefore, South Africa has also had to resort to importing scarce skills from other countries. Many of these employees come from other African countries, but this is not to say that all of them have their “papers”.
One of the biggest challenges in the way of developing more apprentices is the attitudes of some companies towards training. They may not want to train their staff because they will have to pay them more. Migrant workers are more willing to work for lower wages than their South African counterparts. Some fear that once their employees have qualified as tradespeople, they will be poached by other companies or that they will leave and start their own businesses. This will increase competition in already challenging economic circumstances, while time and money was wasted on training employees. Some companies can simply not afford to give their best workers time off from their jobs to complete three years of formal training. Smaller companies may not be able to afford the cost of training their employees. As smaller operators, they are not required by legislation to train and incentivised to do so.
Starting with a FLC certificate
Employees should be encouraged to upskill, starting with attaining a FLC certificate.
Technical industries are struggling to attract young adults to their profession. Many matriculants prefer to study for a university degree as opposed to a trade. Unfortunately, there is a stigma to working with one’s hands that industries are working hard to break. Notably, there was a 36,5% decline in the total number of learners who entered artisanal learning programmes during the 2020/21 financial year. This is despite the high demand for skilled artisans in the country which improves the chances of securing employment for newly qualified tradespeople. A degree no longer guarantees employment, especially in difficult economic conditions. This is evidenced by the many unemployed university graduates in the country. Interestingly, there are fewer unemployed trained artisans than there are jobless university graduates.
Certainly, there are also outstanding examples of how the private sector is helping to develop a strong pipeline of artisanal skills that we need to take the country forward. A case in point is the mining industry. Between 2016 and 2020, the mining industry enrolled more than 5 000 artisans in training and development. This was done at an overall cost of about R300 000 per learner and a total investment cost of more than R1,5-billion.
FLC certificate is mandatory
A FLC certificate is mandatory to enrol for new QCTO-registered occupational qualifications in relevant engineering fields. These occupational qualifications will replace existing NATED report N1, N2 and N3 programmes that are provided by TVET colleges. This is part of a drive by the DHET to ensure that technical skills training is closely aligned with the skills needs of a rapidly changing economy. Modern employees need to be creative and able to think critically. They must also possess interpersonal skills, as well as be able to write, present and negotiate. Furthermore, employees in the modern workplace must have an ability to present a reasoned argument, as well as ask the correct questions and seek out the answers.
As early as 2010, the QCTO was being primed to handle all of SAQA’s [https://www.saqa.org.za/] occupational-related qualifications. This process is expected to be completed in 2023 and will have far-reaching implications on the training system and industry.
Transferring occupational-related qualifications from SAQA to QCTO makes sense. This is considering the QCTO’s specific focus on occupational qualifications. SAQA, on the other hand, has always had a broader mandate that covers all education and training. Its focus on occupational qualifications has, thus, been diluted.
Importantly, the QCTO has also always been more closely aligned with the DHET [https://www.dhet.gov.za/] than SAQA.
Learning for a FLC certificate
Employees who are learning for a FLC certificate are enhancing their maths skills.
Many matriculants do not have the maths skills that they need to pursue apprenticeships. Bear in mind the technical nature of most trades that requires at least an understanding of basic maths. Electricians, for example, use simple math, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, to perform routine measurements and calculations. They will work with fractions, percentages and decimals to determine room dimensions; wiring lengths; convert watts to kilowatts; and calculate loads.
Meanwhile, plumbers use maths to measure and calculate quantities, as well as to select tool or pipe sizes. They are, therefore, especially good at adding and subtracting numbers that have fractions or decimal points. Carpenters, on the other hand, use arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus and statistics to measure materials; calculate volumes; and complete other project-planning tasks. They also use their maths skills to study blueprints to understand a project’s layout and to determine dimension for supplies.
Our learners’ performance in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study demonstrates the extent of the maths skills crisis we are facing as a nation. South African primary school learners scored the third lowest in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Primary school learners from as many as 64 countries participated in the study [https://nces.ed.gov/timss/]. Meanwhile, our Grade 9 learners received the second lowest score in the study. Grade 9 learners from just under 40 countries participated.
Worryingly, less than a third of all students in the final year of high school take maths and only half of them pass their exams. This is a serious hurdle in the way of meeting our apprenticeship development targets as a country.
FLC certificate holders understand maths
Because FLC certificate holders understand basic maths, they are an asset to any business; the industry in which they work; and the larger economy.
Emerging research suggests that education specifically related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines is a better measure of human capital. This is because it considers the importance of education that stimulates innovation and produces workers who can drive and respond to technological advancement. These are core to economic prosperity.
Obtaining a FLC certificate
By obtaining a FLC certificate, your employees have completed FML, or “Foundational Mathematical Literacy”.
FML is minimum, generic mathematical literacy. It provides your employees with an adequate foundation to cope with the numeracy demands of occupational training. This basis can be further developed in mathematical literacy contexts and concepts that are specific to a trade.
Employees who have met all the requirements of FML can solve problems in real contexts. They can respond to information about mathematical ideas that are presented in a variety of ways. Your employees will be able to solve problems by defining them, as well as analysing and making sense of the information provided. They will then plan how to solve the problem; execute their plan; interpret and evaluate the results; and justify their method or solution. When solving problems, they will apply a range of skills that they learnt during FML instruction. These include identifying or locating relevant information, ordering, sorting, comparing, counting, estimating, computing, measuring, modelling, interpreting and communicating.
Carrying 20 credits, FML consists of:
- Number and quantity
- Finance
- Data and chance
- Measurement
- Space and shape
- Patterns and relationships
Working towards a FLC certificate
Working towards obtaining a FLC certificate, your employees will also hone their English literacy skills.
In addition to technical skills, apprentices need to be able to communicate effectively. They must have an ability to get their message across clearly and concisely in both the written and spoken word. They also use their communication skills to present themselves well and react to others in the appropriate manner. Apprentices also use their communication skills to work effectively in teams. This includes an ability to negotiate and liaise with others on projects. Welders, for example, need to listen closely to what their supervisors say when explaining a job.
Any deviation from instruction will result in work having to be redone, wasting valuable time and resources. Millwrights use their communication skills to ask questions about blueprints and appropriate tools. This is in addition to collaborating with colleagues and alerting them of safety hazards. On a typical building site where many different trades work, sound communication skills facilitate cohesion; greater production; and trust between employees and managers.
Poor literacy skills prevent many employees from enrolling for occupational training. Without a solid gasp of the English, they will also struggle to write their trade test in the language.
Many need a FLC certificate
Many South Africans need to work towards attaining a FLC certificate.
According to the 2023 Background Report for the 2030 Reading Panel, South Africa’s literacy crisis is deepening. The report states that a complete overhaul of the countrywide education system is needed to arrest the situation. Refer to embargoed_2023_reading_panel_background_report_7_feb_2023.pdf (groundup.org.za). The 2030 Reading Panel consists of a group of leaders and researchers who were convened by former Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Nguka. It is working towards ensuring that all South African children 10 years of age or older can read for meaning by 2030. Refer to PANEL | 2030 Reading Panel.
According to the report, most children leave grade one without knowing the alphabet. Meanwhile, 82% of grade 4 children cannot read for meaning. Only the Western Cape and Gauteng are taking steps to address the literacy crisis. Worryingly, none of the panel’s 2022 recommendations were implemented. Until such time that we have attended to these issues, adult literacy training programmes, such as FLC, will remain relevant.
FLC certificate denotes communication skills
A FLC certificate denotes sound English communication skills. This is because employees who have completed FLC have participated in FC, or “Foundational Communication”.
FC provides the basis in the formal language of learning and instruction. Employees who have completed FLC are able to use reading, writing and speaking skills to convey meaning in a logical and orderly manner. They will be able to extract information from a text; infer meaning; make deductions; develop logical arguments; and organise their thinking. They will also be able to extract key messages from an extended piece of writing.
Consisting of 20 credits, FC consists of:
- Writing
- Speaking and listening
- Visual literacy
- Language structure and use
- Study skills
- Workplace terminology
Enrol for a FLC certificate
Many individuals who have completed ABET, enrol for a FLC certificate. It is the logical next step towards achieving a NQF Level 4 education.
Individuals who have completed ABET Level 3 can also be considered for FLC. However, it is advisable that they first undergo a placement assessment to determine if they are ready for FLC.
FLC certificate through us
Many employees have obtained an FLC certificate through us and then gone on to learn a trade. This is because Triple E Training is a leading provider of QCTO-accredited FLC training.
Notably, we were among the first to provide this type of training and to have our FLC training accredited by the QCTO. The accreditation was based on our many years of experience providing FLC. This includes the comprehensive training material and quality assurance procedures that we have developed specifically for FLC training. The overall quality of instruction that learners receive from our skilled and experienced facilitators also helped us to secure our accreditation. These have been widely adopted throughout the training industry as the norm for FLC training.
Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality FLC training, as well as other state-of-the-art adult literacy and numeracy training solutions. www.eee.co.za
