The Centre of Specialisation (CoS) for Pipe Fitting at the Vredenburg Campus of West Coast TVET College (WCC) has produced its first qualified female Pipe Fitter in South Africa, through a trade test that was concluded in late October 2022 – Jermaine Nikita Adams.

 

The CoS programme that has been rolled out in the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges covers 13 trades that have been selected in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and various industry partners and is quality management by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The Pipe Fitting Programme at the Vredenburg Campus has now seen the fruits of their training as the first cohort of students who have completed the CoS training with the dual system that saw these students in the programme move between the college and a workplace during their time of study and who are now attempting their trade tests.

 

“I feel overwhelmed and blessed in many ways to be the first qualified female pipe fitter in SA”, said Ms Jermaine Adams who was placed at African Project Consultants (APC) in Cape Town for the practical part of the programme.

 

WCC together with Mopani TVET College was awarded the CoS for Pipe Fitting by DHET in 2018.

 

“We are very proud to have been the first college that has produced the first female Pipe Fitter and the college looks forward to continuing to produce qualified artisans in this trade. The production of the artisans through this programme will contribute to the provincial skills development and the national skills development plan and we will continue to train these students to be employable and responsive to what the world of work needs,” said Lungisa Mbulawa, West Coast TVET College Principal and Chief Executive Officer. “The college would also like to thank our campus and lecturing staff for their hard work, dedication and their support in getting our students ready to become qualified artisans,” he added.

 

Quen Bowie, WCC Pipe Fitting Facilitator, mentioned how Jermaine showed eagerness to work and learn more which has resulted in a positive competition between her and some male students in the field, as she had a dream to become the first qualified female Pipe Fitter in South Africa.

 

“We know that she gave it her all and continued to push and challenge herself to become the first qualified female Pipe Fitter,” added Quen.