Artisan Development and Training - An analysis of the Apprentice, Learnership and ARPL Trade Test Results of Candidates Tested at TEK-MATION Training Institute

The artisan work force is the lifeblood of the engineering and technology sectors and is the key factor in driving the economic growth and development of any country. Presently South Africa is experiencing a shortage of skilled artisans who can maintain the various state-owned entities (SOE's) and other processing and manufacturing plants in the industrial sectors. In the last 20 years different initiatives and interventions have being put in place by government in order to overcome the shortage of scare and critical skills [17]. The purpose of this paper is to present the artisan training and development model practiced at TEK-MATION Training Institute and to share the best practices and shortcomings of the model.