Twenty learners who matriculated from Katlehong Engineering School of Specialisation near Alberton last year have been enrolled for apprenticeship training at ACTOM’s Technical Training Centre in Knights, Germiston.
Katlehong Engineering School is one of three East Rand high schools for formerly disadvantaged communities that participate in the ACTOM-sponsored Ekurhuleni School Tutoring Project, which provides extra tutoring in Maths and Science to Grades 9 to 12 learners at the schools to improve teaching and performance levels in these subjects with the aim of improving learners’ opportunities to take up technically-orientated careers when they leave school.
The apprenticeship training of the selected learners is funded by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MERSETA).
The learners, who commenced their apprenticeship training at the beginning of April this year, were selected mainly on the basis of having achieved high marks in Maths and Science in their matric examinations at the end of last year. Ten are receiving apprenticeship training as electricians, while the other ten are being trained as fitters-and-turners.
“Five members of the group have benefitted from Maths and Science tutoring through our Ekurhuleni School Tutoring Project since 2019 when they were in Grade 9 right through to matric last year,” Sylvester Makamu, ACTOM’s HR Executive pointed out.
The group is receiving fulltime apprenticeship training at the Technical Training Centre for six months and thereafter will be placed in various ACTOM divisions for the on-the-job training they’re required to undergo before doing their final trade test to qualify as artisans.
