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35 Kenton area students qualify - February 2010
THIRTY-FIVE residents from around the Kenton-on-Sea and Bushman's area received certificates in English communication and mathematical studies last Thursday.
The 35 residents are all in the field of construction, or hope to be, and were offered an opportunity to further their English communication and mathematical studies by Triple E Training Holdings and the Construction Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) last year.
Justin Wilmot of Resort Constructions and Anton Masters, whose passion is developing people, assisted Tripe E Training Holdings (PTY) Ltd greatly in the beginning to find the students.
Wilmot and Masters are members of the Kenton Bushman's Chamber of Business and Tourism and found the problem in the community was that people lacked skills.
"The problem is they are unemployable due to a lack of skills," said Wilmot. "There is very little being done to transfer real skills in these times and in this area."
Wilmot said the Chamber of Business and the Master Builders' Association approached the construction companies in the area and then the Kenton Bushman's Chamber of Business and Tourism contacted Paula Whitaker and her team to be a contributor and a "vehicle to access funds" to up-skill local people.
Triple E Training Holdings is an Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) provider contracted by the SETA to facilitate these courses.
Whitaker of Triple E Training Holdings said the 35 students completed 45 days of training in the Marselle Town Hall last year and every single one of them got an English and mathematics certificate at the awards ceremony.
Wilmot describes the handing over of the mathematics and English certificates as being the first step in the students accessing their basic skills.
Brian Fina from the Construction SETA said as a former teacher he was proud to see the people taking the opportunity to make something of themselves.
"Skills development in South Africa is very important and is needed. We must make sure we continue to encourage these people," said Fina.
As a member of the ward committee of Kenton/Bushman's, Wilmot said he knew how important it was that the people of the area were equipped with skills.
Wilmot said the difficult part of the process was not accessing the funds but to find people who would be committed to the process.
"As an employer, it costs me nothing, we are just accessing government funds and now we are able to get these students to a certain educational level where they can be trained in various skills," said Wilmot.
According to Whitaker the students could now go on to getting qualifications in plumbing, painting or anything involving construction.
Fina addressed the students before they received their certificates, telling them although they had been the ones learning, that through them, SETA and Triple E were learning as well.
He told them what he learnt was there is only one kind of formula for success.
"It is not a magic formula, it is just that one should apply one self through sheer hard work," said Fina.
He told the story of Kimani Nganga Maruge, a Kenyan man who made headlines when he decided to go to the school for the first time at the age of 84.
When Maruge decided to go to school, the Kenyan government had decided the previous year to introduce free primary schooling.
Maruge wanted to learn to count and manage money which he was to receive as compensation from the authorities for fighting against the British. He also wanted to learn to read the Bible.
"The moral of the story is that one must have a goal, identify opportunities to achieve that goal and commit yourself to doing it," said Fina.
Triple E Training Holdings is now looking into the availability of funds for the students to go to the next step.
- LIESL AH SHENE
