It is often said that experience is the teacher of all things.  In recognition of the fact that the South African plastics industry employs skilled workers who have many years of practical, hands-on experience that should be credited as part of a formal qualification, Plastics|SA is spearheading a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative in partnership with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Education and Training Authority (merSETA).

“The plastics chain in South Africa employs over 60 000 people and is defined as a priority sector by government. There are many people within the local plastics industry who have several years of practical knowledge and valuable expertise, but no formal qualification to show for it,” explains Kirtida Bhana, Training Executive of Plastics|SA. “These skills have very often been acquired through various in-house training programmes, on the job training, or simply through working with particular processes and are in high demand in an industry that could soon be facing a serious skills shortage.”

According to Bhana, the existing plastic manufacturing qualifications have only been in effect since 2010. “As a result, the qualifications and training undergone by many employees who were trained and qualified before this time are not being recognised. Plastics|SA has developed a series of steps to prepare candidates for an Integrated Summative Assessment.  The process starts with learners assessing themselves against the specific outcomes of the level of qualification they wish to be assessed against, in order to gauge their readiness. “We facilitate the entire process, while the learners gather relevant evidence of their competencies,” she explains.

RPL facilitation is currently offered by Plastics|SA around the country for learners who are able to produce evidence of their competence against the exit level outcomes of a particular qualification in Plastic Manufacturing NQF 2- NQF 5, or Polymer Composite Fabrication NQF 2- 4. Candidates who have been employed in the industry for longer than five years and who feel confident that they will be able to produce evidence of their competencies against the listed exit level outcomes of a particular qualification, are welcome to apply.

For more information, contact Kirtida Bhana on 011 653 4782 or email: Kirtida.Bhana@plasticsSA.co.za.