Tvet teachers undergo assessment, competency-based training

VOCATIONAL school teachers have been given training on competency-based training (CBT) and assessment (CBTA).
The teachers, of national certificate 1 (NC1) and national certificate 2 (NC2) course programmes, needed the training to be able to teach training modules from NC1 and NC2 appropriately.
CBTA guidelines recognised internationally are that teachers must plan their daily lessons which they must execute efficiently and effectively.
This is in specialised training programmes like carpentry and building construction where workshops, computer laboratory and practical classrooms are needed.
The training was given because the centre has improved its facilities and is now ready to teach the national curriculum, linked to the technical vocational education and training (TVET) national qualification framework (NQF).
The centre requested for an audit to be conducted on its facilities by the Tvet division last year.
The audit report indicated that the centre had met requirements, and could deliver the national certificate course programmes.
The recent training boosted the morale of the teachers.
They pledged to deliver NC1 and NC2 courses to students starting this year and beyond, as they were now equipped with relevant facilities, tools and equipment.
The centre will also continue to improve its facilities, and procure adequate equipment and tools where necessary, so that they can also offer NC3 courses in the future.
The NC1 includes hospitality, commercial cookery, tourism, office administration, carpentry and joinery, furniture and cabinet-making, metal fabrication and welding, automotive light vehicle, auto electrical light vehicle, and auto body repair and refinishing.
Students will do six weeks on-the-job training (OJT) with public and private organisations.
The only NC2 course to be taught this year is hospitality.
The students will be expected to do eight weeks OJT with various industries after they complete the course for six months.
The following short courses are also offered: information technology, electronics, arc welding, housekeeping, cookery, food and beverages and furniture and cabinet-making. The current policy directs Tvet centres to offer NC1 and NC2 courses to their trainees.
The existing policy also points out that technical and business colleges should deliver NC3 and NC4 training programmes, whilst polytech institutes deliver national diploma (NC5) and national advanced diploma (NC6) training programmes.
Ten courses lead to first degree, post-graduate and doctorate qualifications at university level.
Students who wish to follow a career path in one of the NC courses could graduate with a degree up to a doctorate qualification.