THE CHALLENGES FACING THE CHALLENGES FACING OPERATOR DEVELOPMENT AT OPERATOR DEVELOPMENT AT

MUNICIPALITIESMUNICIPALITIES

Date: 27th November, 2007

Presenter:Daniel Lentle

The Big Picture – South AfricaThe Big Picture – South Africa1. Legislation

SAQA Act 58 of 1995Skills Development Act 9 of 1998

Skills Development Levies Act, 1999Manpower Training Act 56 of 1981

2. Qualifications & Unit StandardsSGB’s generate unit standards &

qualificationsSAQA registers qualifications &

unit standardsDoL registers learnerships for SETA

3. Curriculum FrameworkUnit standards contents analysis

Constructed per qualification matrix and NQF level

Creates a blue print for Creates a blue print for courseware developmentcourseware development

5 Learnership ImplementationWorkplace Readiness:

mentor and assessor training, learner selection, pre-course assessment and registration

Requirements for accreditation of workplaces: Policy statement, QA system, Quality Management System, Learning

programme delivery; policies and procedures; physical resources; record keepingProject Based Approach:

Implementation model with measurable outcomes for the learner and businessIntegrated learning projects

Mentor/instructor drivenMeasures applied competence as well as effectiveness of the learner

Integrated summative assessments against project outcomes and qualification exit level outcomes

4. Course DevelopmentMethodology

Outcomes based learningLearner centered

Self-paced learningIntegrated Learning

Critical cross field outcomesTransferability

Mastery learningModular

Workplace basedBuild-in assessment tools

Must yield evidence for formative and Summative assessments

6. Education and Training QAAccredit providers

Assure quality delivery and assessment of Registered unit standards

• 7. QCTO• rationalize the work of the

sector ETQA bodies which currently fall under Setas

SECTOR PERSPECTIVES - SECTOR PERSPECTIVES - MUNICIPALITIESMUNICIPALITIES

• LearnershipsLearnerships

• Skills ProgrammesSkills Programmes

• Training in General ( No Emphasis Training in General ( No Emphasis on Accredited Training)on Accredited Training)

Case ScenariosCase Scenarios

Rand Water Rand Water - Field Tests (Chlorine Training)- Field Tests (Chlorine Training)

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality - General Plant Optimization- General Plant Optimization

Rand Water ScenarioRand Water Scenario

• Problems associated with data Problems associated with data correlationcorrelation

• Decision taken: Decision taken:

• ““everybody to be retrained”everybody to be retrained”

• Training needs analysis not conductedTraining needs analysis not conducted

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)

Mode Of Assessment:Mode Of Assessment:

1. Written1. Written

2. Observation2. Observation

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)

• Results:Results:1. Over 90 % problems had nothing to do with 1. Over 90 % problems had nothing to do with

skillskill

2. 75 % of problems associated with processes 2. 75 % of problems associated with processes and attitudeand attitude

3. Less than 15 % systems3. Less than 15 % systems

4. Protracted training as a result of 4. Protracted training as a result of misalignmentmisalignment

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)

• How Problem Was SolvedHow Problem Was Solved

1.1. Management to take responsibilityManagement to take responsibility

2.2. New equipment bought in line with New equipment bought in line with recommendationsrecommendations

3.3. Procedures streamlined to be uniform Procedures streamlined to be uniform throughout organization throughout organization

4.4. Constant quality checks on operatorsConstant quality checks on operators

Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)Rand Water Scenario (cont’d)

• Return On Investment achievedReturn On Investment achieved

1.1. High correlation of data from source to tapHigh correlation of data from source to tap

2.2. Savings associated with knowledge of Savings associated with knowledge of accurate informationaccurate information

3.3. High correlation between QC and QA dataHigh correlation between QC and QA data

4.4. A near total obliteration of resampling/re-A near total obliteration of resampling/re-analysisanalysis

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization– General Plant Optimization

Mandate:Mandate:

1.1. Train Operators to perform functions Train Operators to perform functions effectively and efficientlyeffectively and efficiently

2.2. Identify the “untrainable” OperatorsIdentify the “untrainable” Operators

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization – General Plant Optimization

(cont’d)(cont’d)

Modus Operandi:Modus Operandi:

1. Conduct Training Needs Analysis 1. Conduct Training Needs Analysis

2.Used min requirements as set by DWAF & NQF 2.Used min requirements as set by DWAF & NQF Lvl 2 SAQA qualification for Water & Lvl 2 SAQA qualification for Water & Wastewater OperatorsWastewater Operators

3. Analysis of results and setting up training 3. Analysis of results and setting up training prioritiespriorities

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization – General Plant Optimization

(cont’d)(cont’d)Percentage Averages: Operator Assessments

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

100.00

Basic

Chem

istr

y

Chem

ical

Dosin

g

Basic

Mic

robio

logy

Pla

nt

Optim

ization

Sam

plin

g &

Analy

sis

Basic

Calc

ula

tions

Pre

cen

tag

e

Basic Chemistry

Chemical Dosing

Basic Microbiology

Plant Optimization

Sampling & Analysis

Basic Calculations

Resultant Intervention As A Result Of Resultant Intervention As A Result Of FindingsFindings1.1. No “untrainable” operatorNo “untrainable” operator2.2. Focus based mainly on weak areas, Focus based mainly on weak areas,

e.g. plant optimization, basic e.g. plant optimization, basic microbiology and basic calculationsmicrobiology and basic calculations

3.3. Other areas also revisitedOther areas also revisited4.4. Training effective and with minimal Training effective and with minimal

hours of intervention.hours of intervention.

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization – General Plant Optimization

(cont’d)(cont’d)

• Return On InvestmentReturn On Investment

1.1. Positive attitude inculcatedPositive attitude inculcated

2.2. Better compliance with SANS 0241Better compliance with SANS 0241

3.3. Buy-in from Management with regard Buy-in from Management with regard to trainingto training

4.4. Savings on operational costsSavings on operational costs

Ngwathe Municipality Ngwathe Municipality – General Plant Optimization – General Plant Optimization

(cont’d)(cont’d)

General ConclusionGeneral ConclusionAs a direct comparison of the two As a direct comparison of the two

scenarios:scenarios:

1.1. No sense in attempting to help with No sense in attempting to help with skills acquisition if one does not know skills acquisition if one does not know where the problem lies- Do Training where the problem lies- Do Training Needs Analysis first.Needs Analysis first.

2.2. The result of Training Needs Analysis The result of Training Needs Analysis should direct the Skills Trainingshould direct the Skills Training

3.3. Options are available to Fast-track Options are available to Fast-track Training Acquisition, e.g. Skills Training Acquisition, e.g. Skills Programmes.Programmes.

I will !•Experience & Realistic Plans•Commitment•Tenacity•Endurance

I want to !•Motivation•Personality•Style of work

I can !•Able•Skilled•Competent

I may !•Opportunities•Clarity / Focus / Profile •Authority•Resources•Systems•Feedback / Information•Vehicles

I believe !•Convictions•Purpose in life•Reason for living

HUMAN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT TRIANGLE – SIMPLE MODEL “Triangle/Pyramid - The Strongest Shape in the

world”)

Training Strategy Training Strategy

Business

Priorities

WORK PLACESKILLS PLAN

Training

Grants

RPLSAQA

ETQA

Assessment

Planned TrainingPlanned Training

Training of

occupational

categories

per training

cluster /

race / gender

Workplace Training Report to

SETA

Legislation

Legislation Strategic Business Priorities

Skill Priorities

Addressed Business

Needs

Project Performance

Project Performance

Management

• Ownership• Commitment• Involvement• Implement

Expert from work place

Scientists Consultants

• Organisation Advisors• Make strategic decisions• Provide Expert Advice• Support Project Development

Each employee

Project Manager

• Plan• Lead• Control• Organise

Trade Unions

• Empirical Reasoning• Facilitate experiments• Draw hypothesis

• Positive attitude• Learn• Perform• Rewards• Development

• Advise• Coach and

Train• Assess

• Monitor• Inputs• Partners in

process• Support• Politics

Role players / Stakeholders in projects

• ““If you think education is If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” expensive, try ignorance”

Derek Curtis BokDerek Curtis Bok

• ““If knowledge can create If knowledge can create problems, it is not through problems, it is not through

ignorance that we can solve ignorance that we can solve them” them”

• Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov

Thank YouThank You