ARTISAN RPL PILOT PROJECT FOR OFFENDERS

DEPT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (DCS)

Skills Development Directorate

1.1 The Bill of Rights in SA Constitutionprovides that every citizen has the rightto basic education and to choose theirtrade, occupation and profession freely.

1.2 Amongst the key delivery areas of the Dept of Correctional Services is the rehabilitation of offenders by equippingthem with vocational skills for effective reintegration into communitiesand to enable them to function as productive law abiding citizens.

1. WHY ARPL FOR OFFENDERS IN DCS

1.3 Before incarceration, some offenders were working in the industry asartisan assistants etc.

1.4 Some acquired skills in CorrectionalCentres during their incarceration periodthrough training and/or working inProduction Workshops, kitchens,Agricultural farms and Building andMaintenance sections.

1.5 Up to now DCS has been sending offenders to INDLELA for trade testing.

1.6 The trade occupational qualifications foroffenders:

• Enhance their employment prospects and chances of being successful entrepreneurs upon release, and

• Also benefits DCS to reach it selfsufficiency objectives.

1.7 Facilities for theory and practicals are available in DCS and offenders have

1. WHY ARPL FOR OFFENDERS IN DCS (Cont)

available in DCS and offenders haveample time for ARPL and trade testing

1.8 DCS has partnerships with some TVETColleges to assist DCS in terms of

theory and practicals.

1.9 DCS does not have employer - employee relationship with offenders and as a result there are NO EXPECTATIONS from offenders in terms Promotions and Remunerations.

• Currently 05 Trade RPL Toolkits were developed through RPL Section at

INDLELA: Electrical, Welding, Boiler making, Fitting and Diesel

• Nine offenders are currently under ARPL on the following trades: Electrical

and Welding. DCS spent R52 942.98 on Orientation and Theoretical Assessment

• ARPL for ten offenders on hold due to unavailability of the following RPL Tool

Kits Upholstery, Joinery, Carpentry and motor mechanic

2. STATUS OF ARPL PILOT PROJECT IN DCS

Orientation and theoretical assessment (from 27

Nov 2013 – 11 Dec 2013)

RPL Advisor – responsible

compilation of a PoE

Practical assessment - which will be conducted at

recognized trade test assessment centers by

qualified trades men/women.

Assessor

RPL Advisor – collection of evidence

Workplace assessment – to be conducted on day

to day activities at workplace

Assessor

RPL Advisor – collection of evidence

3. PROFILE OF OFFENDERS REGISTRED ON ARPL

Management

Area

Trades Gender PP

G

Qualifications No. of years

experience in

the trade

Boksburg Welding M C Welding CO2

Arc Welding

10yrs

Boksburg Welding M C Welding CO2 21yrs

Tshwelopele Welding M C Basic Arc Welding 6yrs

Goodwood Welding M C Certificate: Vehicle Body

Builder

18yrs

Tshwelopele Electrical M A Grade 12 13yrsTshwelopele Electrical M A Grade 12 13yrs

Tshwelopele Electrical M C N4 Engineering StudiesElectrical appliance repairs certificate

8yrs

Tshwelopele Electrical M W Different electrical modules 20yrs

Voorberg Electrical M C Grade 12N3: Engineering studies

7yrs

Voorberg Electrical M C AET L3N3 Engineering studies

9yrs

• Challenges in collection of evidence - reference letters from previous employers

• Insufficient budget.

• Unavailability of other ARPL Toolkits for areas that DCS is strong at e.g.

carpentry, joinery and upholstery.

• Communication barriers

ARPL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS • Applicants must be employed by recognized employers.

• They must belong to a recognized Organized labour union

4. CHALLENGES

Giving a second chance to rehabilitated offenders

THANK YOU.