A Technical Guide for Wine Producers

RECENT ARTICLES   |   WYNBOER HOME Life skills education in the Riebeek Valley Gerard Martin Gerard Martin, Winetech The Riebeek Valley is the second area in which Winetech wants to demonstrate the creation of an empowerment environment for technology transfer. Human Capital Solutions (HCS) assessed 34 cellar and farm workers in the area at the end of 2006, with a view to further assessments in 2007. The table below indicates how learners fared in the cipher and linguistic skills assessments. It clearly shows that the cipher and linguistic skills in this area, as in the Robertson area, tend to be low. Some individuals have better qualifications that may be used to improve their career prospects, provided they want to expose themselves to training. In view of the above, it was decided that no more assessments would be done in the area, the general feeling being that these would not look very different. In June 2007 72 learners followed a two day life skills programme. The programme served two important functions, firstly exposing the learners to training, and secondly indicating which learners were keen to get more training so that they would be able to improve their situation. The table below indicates the number of learners who completed the course successfully. The feedback from the learners regarding the two day life skills programme was so positive that Winetech decided to arrange an additional course for 25 learners. It was held in September 2007 and in that session only one learner achieved less than 50%. The road ahead Riebeek Cellar identified a small group which is currently gathering information with a view to starting a learning centre in the Riebeek Valley. In future this could very well play an important role in increasing skills levels in the valley. The small group has already visited the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre in Op-die-Berg to see exactly how a learning centre functions. In 2008 there will be a greater focus on technical skills training and a group of 50 candidates will be selected to undergo the training at NQF Level 1. A provisional training programme has already been drawn up for 2008. A technology transfer empowerment environment can only be created through ongoing exposure of workers to training and this is exactly what Winetech wants to demonstrate in the Riebeek Valley and Robertson areas. Photo: During a ceremony at Riebeek Cellar certificates were handed out to learners who successfully completed the course. Learners also received attendance certificates.

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