The Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) has grown in membership and stature since it was formed in 2013 and is now a vital facility to safeguard the future of the flooring sector, Tandy Coleman, Chairperson, FITA, has stated.
Speaking at the AGM she said that the FITA training curriculum for fitters is the only curriculum for flooring fitters in South Africa and has so far led to 151 trainees obtaining a Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) National Certificate: Installation of Floor Coverings from Sparrow and Tjeka FET Colleges. Another 39 are scheduled to qualify by July 2017.
“The need for qualified fitters will become essential as new government legislation will require a national register of artisans to provide assurance. For registration, flooring artisans will have to successfully complete CETA-accredited learnerships and short skills programmes, or qualify with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). FITA is the official industry facilitator for all these initiatives and represents all stakeholders in flooring now when unity is essential,” said Coleman.
“Manufacturers of flooring products have pledged their commitment to staff training through a Memorandum of Understanding with FITA, and contractors now have a pool of skilled labour to draw from. Fitters, on the other hand, benefit from career development and self-worth.”
Coleman also announced the launch of a new FITA website, Allan De Wit, FITA Director briefed the meeting on FITA’s new affiliation with the global training body, the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI), which will provide FITA with access to CFI’s extensive internationally-respected educational programmes.
