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Lynn replies:

To answer your question, it is important to note that in the world of work, engineering is carried out through engineering teams made up of Engineers, Technologists, Technicians and Artisans. Each perform essential tasks in the engineering world; each complementing the others. The types of education that provide entry into these different categories of engineering are accessed through Universities, Universities of Technology and Further Education and Training Colleges.

Similarly most accounting work is carried out by a team of people comprising Chartered Accountants, Accountants, Accounting Technicians, Bookkeepers and Clerks; each area requiring appropriate education and practical experience.

For the student with poor mathematics results or mathematical literacy, Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges offer a vocationally-oriented National Certificate or NCV in various engineering and business disciplines. Please refer to the following websites for further information on the NCV qualifications and related bursaries in the Western Cape area:
• College of Cape Town (http://www.cct.edu.za)
• False Bay College (http://www.falsebaycollege.co.za
• Northlink College (http://www.northlink.co.za)
• Westcoast College (http://www.westcoastcollege.co.za)
• Boland College (http://www.bolandcollege.com)
• South Cape College http://www.sccollege.co.za)

Students may apply for admission to a University of Technology after completing an NCV as long as they meet the institution’s entry requirements. For example, students wishing to enrol for an engineering-oriented National Diploma need to ensure they have achieved good NCV results in English, Mathematics, Life Orientation and Physical Science. Please refer to the Cape University of Technology (CPUT) Admission 2009 document for details on admission requirements (http://www.cput.ac.za).

Students may also consider applying for learnerships or apprenticeships through the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). These are advertised in newspapers from time to time. A number of guides are available on the Department of Labour website at the following location http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/
• A learnership guide for unemployed people
• Sector Education and Training Authorities
• Registered learnerships

To access the application process the MERSETA (www.merseta.org.za): suggests unemployed people under the age of 35 years register as “work-seekers” at their nearest office of the Department of Labour. The city offices are at:

Bellville Labour Centre
Operating Hours:  07:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday.
Telephone Number(s):  (021) 941 7000
Street Address:  BSE Centre, 89 Voortrekker Road, Bellville
 
Cape Town Labour Centre
Operating Hours:  07:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday.
Telephone Number(s):  (021) 460 5911/5169/5170
Street Address:  Thomas Boydell Building, 22 Parade Street, Cape Town

I hope this information is useful to the youth who visit you Andrew, and I wish you all the best in your endeavours.