Lifelong learning:

overcoming the language

barrier at the Vaal
Triangle Technikon,
South Africa

Noreen McFarlane & Jacques

Vermeulen, Vaal Triangle Technikon,
South Africa

1
 Introduction

• Knowledge gained via learning

programs should add value to learners,
to society and the economy (SAQA)

• The articulation column of the SAHEQF

is designed to facilitate learner mobility
& progression and can be used to admit
those learners who do not meet entry
requirements
2
 Demand vs Supply
• Rapid advances in technology = a
greater demand for a skilled and
educated workforce
• In the RSA only a small % of school
graduates obtain degrees
• High failure rate among first year
students implies that only a small % of
students obtain science-based degrees
• The long-term need for engineers &
scientists is thus not addressed

3
 Admission requirements
• SA tertiary institutions rely on Senior
Certificate results for acceptance to
engineering
• Results are rated on the Adapted
Swedish Formula

National Certificate/N3 Number of Points

Subject Symbol Higher Grade Standard Grade
A (80 % +) 8 7
B (70 – 79 %) 7 6
C (60 – 69 %) 6 5
D (50 – 59 %) 5 4
E (40 – 49 %) 4 3
F (33 – 39 %) 3 2
FF (30 – 32 %) 2 1
4
 Student throughput
• Registered students experience
difficulty in adapting from school to
first year
• Insufficient students register with the
Faculty of Engineering and thus do
not meet industry demands
• Not ideal to refer students that do not
meet admission requirements to other
institutions
• Ideally, prospective students with
inadequate grades should be able to
register for a program to address
these needs 5
 Intro Engineering
• Development
– Discussions within Technikon
– Discussions with first-year lecturers
& Gr 12 teachers

• Design
– Address problem areas in
Mathematics, Physical Science and
Communication Skills
6
 New Applications and late enrolments

Adapted Swedish formula

Mathematics – E Symbol (Grade 12)
Physical Science – E Symbol(Grade 12)
English – E Symbol (Grade 12)

Enrol at Unit For Lifelong Learning for Intro Engineering

Module 1 Module 2
Duration – 04 weeks Duration – 06 weeks

Mathematics Mathematics
Science 60% pass Science 60% pass
Communication Communication

Continuous assessment Continuous assessment – 50%

No examination Summative assessment – 50%

Fail Pass Fail Pass

Module Module Module Module

No Eng option Enrolment for

No repeat Engineering
Diploma 7
Implementation

8
 Conclusions
• Attention should be paid to enrollment figures
in the fields of science and engineering in
order to meet demands
• Problems related to student throughputs may
be overcome via skills enhancement
programs which focus on:
– Hands-on Maths & Science skills
– Life skill Orientation
– English Proficiency
• Skill enhancement should better equip the
student to deal with the demands of the
tertiary environment

9
 Recommendations
• The pilot study learners should be
tracked throughout their Technikon
career in order to determine program
success
• Preliminary findings indicate that
more emphasis should be placed on
the acquisition of basic skills
• Continuous re-evaluation of the
program is required

10