INDUSTRY TRAINING AND CONSULTING CONTINUED SUCCESS
How do you get the best out of learners who want to be spray painters and panelbeaters but have special learning needs? The answer: a passion for people and teaching combined. This is the foundation that Industry Training and Consulting (IT-C) was based upon and continues to grow in this vein today. Automotive Refinisher was on hand at the most recent graduation ceremony to celebrate this milestone with them.
IT-C is a family affair with “Oom” Frik and Frik Botha – his son – involved in every aspect of training. They truly care for every individual who trains with them. Their latest graduates have been training for six months and are their sixth group of pupils. The initial three groups were exclusively hearing-impaired learners. The subsequent three groups have been made up of hearing impaired – as well as learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN).
IT-C work with the MerSeta Skills programme. Historically only focusing on the hearing-impaired community, they became very aware of the need for LSEN students to be given the same opportunities, but with more personalised training. Reading, writing and language barriers is what these learners battle with the most.
With this in mind, IT-C focus on hands-on skills development with less written assessments. They have also learned to customise their pace to each student as they get to grips with new technology and abilities. They also have alternative evaluation methods which provides a more accurate measurement of their competence.
LSEN students have unique strengths. They are persistent and determined as they have had to battle with their learning disabilities to overcome and find their place. They are generally adept at hands-on and practical tasks and often have excellent creative and artistic abilities, making them great candidates for the tasks of spraypainting and panel repair. An incredible eye for detail often makes them an excellent asset in this field.
“While each learner is unique, recognising and nurturing these strengths can enhance their learning experience and employment prospects. Tailoring skills programmes to capitalise on these strengths can lead to greater success and confidence for LSEN students,” says Frik Botha.
“In the six years since starting the progamme, we have trained 68 learners and each of them have received their Statement of Result (SOR). We have not had any students who haven’t received their SOR, which highlights our commitment to each student’s achievement and the effectiveness of the skills programme delivery.
“By incorporating LSEN into the existing programmes we aim to create a more inclusive environment that addresses diverse learning needs and promotes equal opportunities for all students. This approach ensures that our educational offering remains relevant, accessible, and beneficial to a broader range of learners. The main objective is to introduce these candidates after the six-month course, into the panelbeating and spray-painting environment and getting them qualified in three years using Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL).”
The consistent success of their graduates highlights the dedication to quality and student support that IT-C provide well.
Story and pics by Claire Macfie
