Who are we?
The Colliery Training College (CTC), an important centre for artisan and mining skills training in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, has been part of the coal mining industry since 1964. Prominent mining houses (Anglo American Thermal Coal, Exxaro, Glencore, Izimbiwa Coal, Kangra Coal and South 32) own and control CTC, but allow the College to offer its services to other employers from any sector in any industry.
Student numbers currently average about 700 per day in the engineering workshops, 70 in mining training and 45 in mineral beneficiation training.
What do we do?
CTC trains artisans in various trades, such as fitters and turners, electricians, diesel mechanics etc. Miners and mineral process beneficiation operators are trained in a similar way. All these trades and occupations are important in times of high levels of economic activity. Unfortunately, during times of low growth, demand for these skills also decline.
CTC provides “of job” skills for a period totalling six months after which the “on job” skills are obtained with employers where practical tasks are performed under the supervision of qualified. Partnerships with employers are therefore important.
Research and development is undertaken continuously to ensure only applicable and up to date training material and training aids are used. In reply to the exacting safety requirements of clients and to ensure only the best safety outcomes for its learners, CTC was recently assessed and found to conform to the OHSAS 18001 standard. Before any task is attempted during training, learners are taught to do a proper risk assessment as if they were attempting a real-life task.
At a recent event hosted by the Department of Higher Education and training, CTC was recognised by the National Skills Authority as the best provider of artisan training in the country for the year 2016.
CTC offers housing in two student dormitories, one on site and another about three kilometres from site.
What challenges do we face?
Due to reducing employment opportunities, demand for training is also declining, resulting in a decline of student numbers; more worryingly though, is the declining opportunities for learners to obtain “on job” experience.
Interesting facts and figures
Quarterly enrolments of engineering learners from the various shareholders and private employers; It is clear from this table that the majority of the work done by CTC is for employers outside of the mining industry.