September 2010 - Vector - Page 14

THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

The Municipal Infrastructure Directorate of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape wrote the following letter to the Energy Sector Training Authority (ESETA) in May 2010 but by September had not received a response. It is surprising that an issue of this nature appears to be of no concern.

Date: 19/05/2010

SirThis department has for a number of years been directly involved in the training of municipal officials under Section 28 of the Manpower Act in the electrical engineering trade.What has become quite noticeable recently is that the quality of training offered by certain electrical training ins t i tu tes reg i s te red w i th your organisation is questionable and one needs to enquire how is it possible that individuals can pass a trade test, based on the fact that there is clear proof that standards are diminishing. When a person undertakes a trade test at an ESETA-accredited training institution, one of the tasks is to draw up a material list for the particular practical task that he/she was undertaking as a trade test. The material list is scored, and that mark is then added to the mark scored for the trade test.Understandably, the mark allowed for the material list is a small percentage. Recent information provided to this department in the form of a material list is a cause for concern as it appears that trainers are providing trainees with terminology of electrical equipment and components that is outdated and does not conform to standards as required in terms of SANS 10142-1.Once a person passes a trade test, they will in all probability aspire to become an installation electrician, and in so doing will be required to write the SANS 10142-1 examination, and this is where the problem arises. Based on the technical names of electrical equipment/components taught by training institutes, nowhere will words or expressions as described in the table be found in SANS 10142-1.

Sub-standard electrical training in South Africa: terminology and standards

Furthermore, if a person remains an ar t i san w i thout wr i t ing the SANS 10142-1 examination, they will pass that terminology on to those that are their subordinates and that results in inferior installation work, and this is where the heart of the matter lies with regard to the shocking installation work that is so noticeable today. We have very good reasons to state this as we are often in contact with various training institutions, obviously accredited by your organisation as well as other SETAs, and often when visits are carried out to electrical training lectures/courses at various institutions, we hear electrical terminology used that has no bearing or use in our

training environment or in our industry.Training offered in South African electrical training centres is questionable, especially the “subject knowledge” of trainers due to the fact that these expressions and words that have been passed down over the years, must be curbed. In the table below is a list of some of these words/expressions that, in our opinion, should be removed completely from our training institutions and lecture rooms.The expressions in the left hand column are a few of the many used by electricians in the industry and are typical of the manner in which an electrical wholesaler communicates.

Incorrect expression Correct technical expression

Wireman's licence Registered installation electrician

4 x 4 box 100 x 100 mm outlet box

2 x 4 box 50 x 100 mm outlet box

Wonder box Glass fibre enclosure

Megger Insulation resistance tester

Kilo ohm Kilohm

Mega ohm Megohm

Earth spike Earth electrode

Kick pipe Cable entry conduit

Db board Distribution board

Oostersee box Weatherproof cable entry box

House wire PVC conductors

Stove base Stove coupler

Plugs 16 A switched socket outlets

Regulations SANS 10142-1

Light fittings Luminaires

Pre-payment meters Energy dispensers

Globes/bulbs Lamps

Installation rules SANS 10142-1

Isolator Switch-disconnector

Earth wire Earth continuity conductors

Sprague conduit Flexible metal or PVC conduit

Breaker Circuit breaker

Photo-cell Photo electric control

September 2010 - Vector - Page 15

THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

It is our belief that all SETAs who have training institutions under their authority should consider applying quality assurance measures as far as training is concerned and that all institutions should train strictly according to our national electrical engineering norms and standards. We trust that you will find the content of this letter useful and that your organisation will consider improving training methods that are in accordance with our well written technical standards.We cannot afford to let future generations be taught using outdated and incorrect information.Below is a copy of a typical material list compiled by a trainee during his final training period that was noted during a recent visit to a training centre.

Example of a typical material list compiled by a trainee undergoing training in a Johannesburg training centre.

l 4 x 2 extension boxl Two pole earth leakagel Two way switchl 14 hole distribution boxl 20 mm PVC (4)l 2 way conduit boxl 4 x 4 extension boxl Surfix cablel Self taping screwsl 10 A circuit breakerl 20 A circuit breakerl 1,5 mm wires (Red, blue and green)l 4 mm wirel 3 core armoured cableIt is obvious from the above that the trainer who taught this trainee is ill-informed as this material list reflects on his standard of knowledge