The Relevance and Responsiveness of the Electrical Trade Curriculum as offered in Further Education and Training Colleges

[摘要] The aim of the study is to explore the relevance to the workplace of the Further Educationand Training college curriculum in electrical subjects. The study uses a combination ofinterviews, questionnaires and document analysis to collect data. The study was carriedout in Johannesburg and Germiston, and involved six learners, four training managers,three educators, a curriculum developer and an education specialist.Educators noted that there had been no changes in the curriculum for a considerableperiod, and felt that there was a need for change. They mentioned in particular theabsence of practicals as a cause for concern. The curriculum developer agreed that therehad been no substantial curriculum change. He cited report 190/191 and the FET Act of1998 as contributing to the stagnation in the curriculum.Employers continue to recruit learners from the FET colleges, but do not feel that theyhave been fully equipped for the workplace. The colleges provided only the basics, andtraining continued at the workplace. Colleges play a vital role in qualifying learners for atrade. One of the entry requirements for trade test is that candidates have N2, which isonly obtainable at FET colleges.Learners were divided on the question of whether or not the FET college empoweredthem to cope in the world of work, with some, but not all, expressing satisfaction. Thisresponse was understandable as the electrical field is very broad, and companies operateon various levels within the field.In the electrical field, FET colleges have adopted a technocratic approach to thecurriculum, characterized by inflexibility and stagnancy. New curricular approachesbeckon with the government’s recapitalization plan for the FET colleges.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand