Positioning Further Education and Training (FET) colleges to play a meaningful role in preparing students for a changed economic landscape continues to be a key challenge for the country.
For the Central Johannesburg College (CJC), the first objective has been to create a unified identity among their four campuses in Parktown, Doornfontein, Alexandra and Riverlea. These were previously separate technical colleges which have now been merged to create the new institution.
Motsumi Makhene, principal and chief accounting officer of CJC, says the aim is for each campus to cater for a specialist niche.
‘We will try to match up each campus’ curriculum so that courses are relevant for their immediate community. For example, the Alexandra campus courses should slot in with the presidential urban renewal programme,” he says.
Another objective is to eliminate duplication of some services at the four campuses. This, Makhene believes, will come with a revamp of administrative and management structures that will be a boost for good governance.
‘We are moving into a phase of implementing guidelines set out in the Skills Development Act. We are also reorganising the form and structure of the college and implementing things such as a fresh system of learnerships,” says Makhene.
Historically, the old technical colleges worked closely with industry to provide technicians, mostly for the parastatals and the mining sector. In the past 15 years this role has been expanded to include the training of artisans for trades in sectors such as the building industry. Now, says Makhene, the emphasis is on the general services industry, which includes everything from cosmetology and hair care to early childhood development services and the tourism sector.
Currently there are 13 courses offered at CJC including engineering, food services, popular music, art and design and secretarial courses. A new course planned for next year will offer enterprise management and business skills development.
In changing the curriculum the college has to maintain a fine balancing act. While the courses have to be flexible enough to keep up with the changing demands of a global economy, they also need a degree of constancy so that a level of maturity can develop.
The minimum entry requirement for CJC is a Grade 9 pass. Students enrol either to finish the equivalent of their matric qualifications or for tertiary education-type qualifications.
Makhene stresses, ‘As a public education provider, the focus is on accessibility and affordability. If a student isn’t achieving we need to know why. We are also standardising fee structures and setting up financial aid support and we have good state funding.”
One challenge CJC has to handle is the students who bring with them loaded personal baggage.
‘The reality is that we do have students who come from very disadvantaged and difficult backgrounds where their parents may be dead because of Aids, for example. Our task is to support these students to create opportunities for them by giving them relevant middle to high level skills,” he says.
Makhene believes the college is attracting the right kind of educators to tackle these specific needs, and also plans to beef up CJC’s counselling services.
‘We use professionals from industry to teach and also send our educators on courses so they stay current and are supported in implementing the FET guidelines,” says Makhene.
At any one time there are between 7 000 and 8 000 students enrolled at the college. The range of certificate and diploma courses can run over single semesters or up to several semester blocks. Students can also study part-time or via the internet.
Makhene says more students can be accommodated and it is vital for the country’s growth to ensure a strong base of technically skilled people.
For him, CJC is perfectly placed to ensure that more young South Africans are in the education – and employment – loop.