ChietaSETA

Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority

Like all the other Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is a statutory body that was established by the Skills Development Act of 1998, and made operational in 2000.

No changes are planned for this SETA in terms of the new SETA landscape announced by the South African Government late last year (2009). This implies that the CHIETA has been operating efficiently, ensuring that the skills required by this industry are met.

Role of the Chemical SETA

The CHIETA was established in terms of the legislation previously mentioned, to facilitate the development of skills in the chemical industries sector. It is this SETA’s responsibility to ensure that the needs of the chemical industry are clearly identified. Having clearly identified these needs, it has been CHIATA’s responsibility to introduce initiatives that will enable learners to achieve the necessary education and training. These responsibilities will continue once the new SETA landscape is finally approved for the period 2011 to 2015.

The CHIATA has stated that it has a “vision” to provide world-class, top quality education and training opportunities for the chemical industries sector. Again, it is clear that it has achieved its vision with some considerable success.

The CHIATA mission and objectives

The CHIETA has a stated mission to contribute to the sustainable development of the chemical industry by facilitating the provision of skills that will grow and improve the industry sector.

It has achieved its strategic objectives during the past decade by identifying, prioritising and communicating the varied but critical skills that are needed for the sustainable growth and development of the chemical industries sector. It has also prioritised the need for equity in the sector and has continued to positively promote the need for an increase in top quality training for those in the workplace.

CHIATA promotes employability of those in the sector

The fact of the matter with all the SETAs in South Africa is that it is their responsibility to ensure that people entering a specific industry or industry sector, as well as those already working in that industry can do the job at hand. This is not possible without the relevant skills and training. It is therefore the responsibility of every SETA to:

• find businesses where learners can do practical work and benefit from the workplace experience
• offer support to those who create and produce learning material for college courses and so on
• help to set up and finalise learnership agreements
• register learnership agreements

The CHIATA has been successful in doing this, largely because this SETA has focused on promoting the employability of those entering the sector. In this way learners are able to get the necessary skills development that enables them to develop sustainable livelihoods.

The CHIATA has also been able to successfully assist various designated groups, including new entrants to the chemical sector, largely by improving the quality and relevance of the education and training that is available to the sector. Members of the SETA have participated on accredited work and integrated learning programmes, as well as work-based programmes that are vital for learners to acquire the critical skills needed to be able to enter the labour market. These skills are also invaluable for new, young entrepreneurs who are aiming to start their own businesses and thus be self employed.

They have also made some impact in terms of enabling discretionary grants and bursaries.

Where to find the CHIETA

The CHIETA is based in Richmond, Johannesburg, close to Auckland Park.

Telephone:  (011) 726 4026

Fax:  (011) 726 7777

Website:  Information