The perceived strengths and weaknesses of NATED, NCV and Occupational Qualifications in training plumbers at TVET Colleges

Date
2023-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
This research report investigated the perceived strengths and weaknesses of NATED, NCV and Occupational Qualifications in training plumbers at TVET Colleges. The research investigated the views of lecturers, learners and campus managers on what they view as the strengths and weaknesses of NATED, NCV, and Occupational Qualifications in training plumbers at TVET colleges. The main differences are the manner in which practical and theoretical knowledge are taught in the three courses, which appears to be a strong factor in the perception of the strengths and weaknesses of NATED, NCV, and Occupational Qualifications. The main weakness of the NATED qualification is the absence of the practical component at the college level. However, the main strength of the NATED is its flexibility to allow working students to attend classes on a block release basis or as part time students. The main weaknesses of NCV is that it does not allow employed students to attend classes on full time or part time bases. The qualification require students to complete the whole three years to exit the programme. However, the strength of the qualification is the basic practical component which provide students the skills to start own businesses. The strength of Occupational Qualification is that its students are already employed by their different companies as apprentices. The main weakness is when the host employer is not able to conduct all practical component and the lead employer is not able to find the alternative host employer to conduct the missing practical component. In conclusion, the three qualifications differ significantly in the approach and delivery method. Although they all lead to apprenticeship which ends with candidates taking a trade test to qualify as artisans, their different approaches signify weaknesses and strengths.
Description
Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters in Education degree, to the Faculty of Humanities, at the Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.
Keywords
NATED, NCV, Occupational Qualifications, TVET Colleges, Workplace, Students, Campus Managers, Lecturers, Plumbing, Trade Test, UCTD
Citation
Mogale, Lesetja James. (2023). The perceived strengths and weaknesses of NATED, NCV and Occupational Qualifications in training plumbers at TVET Colleges. [PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/41014