The release of a vocational pedadogy report which is set in a South African
context, has helped to define vocational education. In the wake of the report
educational specialists have met to further define the challenges surrounding
vocational teaching.
With reference to the How to teach vocational education: A theory of
vocational pedagogy report Amanuel Garza, from JET Education Services
shared his insights.
He emphasized the point that vocational pedagogy needs to be owned by
the sector, rather than borrowed from general education.
He highlighted that people working in vocational sectors need the routine
expertise to deal with everyday problems; the resourcefulness to solve trickier
problems; the functional literacies to explain their solutions to customers; the
professional attitudes to do so in a way that values the customer; the
craftsman’s desire to do a job well; and the wider skills for growth to innovate
for future solutions.
Peliwe Lolwana, Professor at the University of Witwatersrand and the
Chairperson of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO),
emphasised that vocational pedagogy has an important role to play in achieving
quality.
She also said that although the report offers a model for vocational teaching
that there are elements which need to be discussed in more detail.The research
needs more debate to improve vocational teaching and learning and that
vocational training programmes should be characterised by learning with a clear
line of sight to work.
Volker Wedekindfrom the University of KwaZulu-Natal said that the report was
accessible, with useful frameworks for application and that it recognises the
complexity of vocational teaching and learning.
He suggested that all policy makers in vocational education be involved in a
rigorous debate about vocational pedagogy in South Africa.
Volker Wedekind, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Chris Brinkfrom Tshwane North Collegesaid that: “It is so important that we
prepare learners for the lives they are going to lead beyond the College
environment.
The seminar raised the awareness of vocational education’s importance to the
South African economy and the development of a highly skilled workforce.
Vocational education needs to be high-status and valued to ensure high quality
teaching. The City & Guilds report stimulate challenging conversations
about vocational pedagogy in South Africa”
Louis Coetzer from Westcol and Chris Brink from Tshwane North College
Orenna Krut,Director: Africa for City &Guilds said that the country needs to focus
on high-quality vocational education that meets employers’ needs to ensure a
skilled workforce. This is a critical time for South Africa as there will be a greater
need for skilled individuals, and vocational education has a clear role to play.
