CHAPTER 1

PREFACE

1.1 Introduction

The Grootfontein College of Agriculture is the training division of the larger Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) of the Department of Agriculture (DoA). The objective of the Grootfontein College of Agriculture is to provide vocational agricultural training in order to prepare students for a career in farming and related occupational fields, with special emphasis on small stock production management in the extensive small stock farming areas.

In the process, the College promotes a vigorous and wealth generating small stock production sector. This is in line with the vision of the Department of Agriculture, namely: “A united and prosperous agricultural sector.”

The College aims to:

· Provide formal vocational training in agriculture in the Higher Education band of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), in order to produce suitably qualified and equipped manpower, in accordance with requirements for farming and agricultural development work in the technical occupational divisions, with special emphasis on the extensive small stock farming areas;

· Provide appropriate training programmes to satisfy the farming sector for which training is intended, educationists and development agencies;

· Provide formal and informal training in the Further Education and Training band of the NQF to meet the training needs of the farming communities, Land Reform beneficiaries and development agencies;

· Identify the need for training at ground level, and to provide custom-designed extra-curricular courses for special interest groups;

· Provide necessary institutional, infrastructural, financial and administrative support services to support teaching and learning effectively and efficiently.

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1.2 Clients and client needs

The primary beneficiaries of the GADI training programme are land users in the extensive sheep and goat producing regions of South Africa. They are represented by:

· Departments of Agriculture

· Commodity organizations

· Agribusiness

· Organized agriculture

· Farming communities

· Farmers

· Land reform beneficiaries

The client needs are determined by communication with provincial departments of agriculture, commodity organizations, agribusiness and farming communities. These needs are then aligned with the key programmes of the Department of Agriculture.

Emerging farmers form a very important part of the

clientele of Grootfontein

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1.3 Training staff

The staff component of the College remained stable during 2005 and consisted of thirteen fulltime lecturers and six administrative staff members. In addition, specialists in certain fields were contracted to present some of the modules to ensure that the students received the best possible training.

The academic staff received training in the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) structures, the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), registered qualifications and unit standards, training and lecturing skills, as well as in group dynamics. Five staff members were also trained as assessors to be registered by AgriSETA.

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CHAPTER 2

HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMME

2.1 Higher Certificate in Agriculture

2.1.1Aim

The general aim of this study programme is to provide training for market-orientated producers in the practical application of functional knowledge, production techniques and agricultural management principles and practices.

2.1.2 Objectives of the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

(a) To provide training in the following fields of study:-

· The principles and practices of small stock management, wool and mohair production, as well as mutton production

· Principles of large stock production

· Agricultural management

· Veld and grazing management

· Principles of crop and fodder production

· Agricultural engineering - principles and techniques

· Agricultural law and personnel management

· Life Skills

(b) To provide the student with functional knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and its application in the production process.

(d) To enable the student to undertake development and maintenance work at farm level.

(e) To provide the students with basic knowledge and practical skills needed for the development of their managerial abilities as market orientated producers.

(f) To establish a coordinated interdisciplinary approach.

g) To impart knowledge and skills and to develop attitudes necessary for understanding and appreciating the agricultural production process in relation to ecosystems and their constituent interacting components, in order to achieve optimum resource utilization for sustained maximum agricultural production.

Students receiving training in the Wool Practical module

2.1.3 Teaching methodology

The subjects are presented as modules where for a certain period of time and, depending on the number of credits, only one module is presented and examined. The Higher Certificate in Agriculture as a whole consists of approximately 60% theoretical training and 40% practical training. An 80% class attendance is required. Modules are assessed by means of written or oral examinations, tests, assignments, tutorials, or on a basis of continuous assessment. Lectures are presented in both English and Afrikaans.

The instructional programme for the Higher Certificate in Agriculture is given in Table 1.

Table 1: SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1The Instructional Programme for the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

Year of Study	Sem	Module				Credits
Year of Study	Sem	Code	Title		Content	Credits
1	1	KTW111	Small Stock Production IA		Wool theory	5
		TEL111	Animal Breeding I		Breeding	4
		VOE111	Animal Nutrition I		Nutrition	5
		DGE111	Animal Health IA		Anatomy & physiology	6
		EQS110	Equine Studies I		Horse care & handling	4
		LBS111	Agricultural Management IA		Agricultural management	4
		PBS111	Personnel Management I		Personnel management	4
		PLK111	Botany I		Botany	4
		GRK111	Soil Science I		Soil science	5
		ENA110	Agricultural Engineering IA		Building science	5
		ENB110	Agricultural Engineering IB		Mechanics	5
		ENC110	Agricultural Engineering IC		Arc welding	5
		END110	Agricultural Engineering ID		Electricity	2
		ENE110	Agricultural Engineering IE		Fences	2
		ENF110	Agricultural Engineering IF		Windmills	2
		RKG110	Computer Use IA		Computers & -programs	3
	2	KTA121	Small Stock Production IB		Angora goats	4
		KTB121	Small Stock Production IC		Sheep management	6
		DGE121	Animal Health IB		Animal health	4
		LBS121	Agricultural Management IB		Agricultural management	3
		VBS121	Veld Management I		Pasture science	4
		GWP121	Crop Production I		Crop production	2
		GWB121	Crop Protection I		Pest & plague control	4
		ENG121	Agricultural Engineering IG		Civil engineering	4
		ENH120	Agricultural Engineering IH		Gas welding	5
		SKK120	Shearing Course		Sheep shearing	2
		KPW120	Small Stock Practical IA		Wool classing	8
		KPS120	Small Stock Practical IB		Sheep practical	6
		RKG120	Computer Use IB		Computers & programs	3
Year of Study	Sem	Module				Credits
Year of Study	Sem	Code	Title	Content		Credits
2	3	KTW231	Small Stock Production IIA	Wool theory		4
		KTV231	Small Stock Production IIB	Mutton sheep		4
		DGE231	Animal Health II	Diseases & control		6
		GVV231	Large Stock Production IA	Beef cattle		5
		LBS231	Agricultural Management IIA	Agricultural management		5
		LBR231	Agricultural Law Studies I	Agricultural laws		4
		VBS231	Veld Management IA	Pasture science		5
		KPA230	Small Stock Practical IC	Angora goats		5
		SMM230	SA Mutton Merino Course	SA Mutton Merino course		2
		JBB230	Junior Boer Goat Course	Boer goat judging course		2
		KPW230	Small Stock Practical IIA	Wool classing (registration)		8
		PDB230	Problem Animal Control	Vermin control		2
		DKB230	Drakensberg Cattle Course	Drakensberg course		2
		RKG230	Computer Use IC	Computers & programmes		3
	4	TEL241	Animal Breeding II	Breeding		4
		VOE241	Animal Nutrition II	Nutrition		4
		KTA241	Small Stock Production IIC	Angora goats		6
		GVB241	Large Stock Production IB	Dairy cattle		3
		GVM241	Large Stock Production IC	Dairying		3
		GVP241	Pig Production I	Pigs		2
		GVV241	Ostrich Production I	Ostriches		2
		LBS241	Agricultural Management IIB	Agricultural management		4
		VBS241	Veld Management IIB	Pasture science		5
		GWA241	Crop Production IIA	Cultivated pastures		5
		GWB241	Crop Production IIB	Irrigation		4
		KPB240	Small Stock Practical ID	Mohair classing		5
		JDK240	Junior Dorper Course	Junior Dorper Judging course		4
		DMK240	Dohne Merino Course	Dohne Merino course		3
		KPS240	Small Stock Practical IIB	Merino rams		5
		RKG240	Computer Use ID	Computers & programmes		3

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2.2 Diploma in Agriculture

2.2.1 Aim

This instructional programme aims to develop the student’s capacity for integrated decision making. The programme is designed to:-

a)Facilitate the integration of interdisciplinary teaching and management of production systems;

b) Allow for intensification of the theoretical knowledge base, technical skills and practical applications;

c) Provide for a degree of diversification through broadening of the subject matter base.

2.2.2 Objectives of the Diploma in Agriculture programme

a) To develop knowledge and proficiency in the necessary skills required for market related production in specific farming enterprises.

b) To enable students to apply innovative thinking skills, advanced technology and problem-solving abilities in the production system process.

c) To combine knowledge and skills from different subjects into a holistic approach to ensure sustainable agricultural production.

d) To teach knowledge and skills and to develop attitudes necessary for understanding and appreciating the needs and demands of an evolving agricultural environment and global challenges posed by open and competitive markets.

2.2.3 Teaching methodology

The subjects are presented as modules where, for a certain period of time, depending on the number of credits, only one module is presented and examined. The Diploma in Agriculture as a whole consists of approximately 40% theoretical training and 60% practical training and self-study and group work. An 80% class attendance is required. Modules are assessed by means of written or oral examinations, tests, assignments, tutorials, on a basis of continuous assessment, project reports or seminars. Lectures are presented in both English and Afrikaans.

The instructional programme for the Diploma in Agriculture is given in Table 2.

Table 2: The Instructional Programme for the Diploma in Agriculture

Year of Study	Sem	Module			Credits
Year of Study	Sem	Code	Title	Content	Credits
3	5	VOE350	Animal Nutrition III	Feedlot project	3
		DPD370	Animal Production IIA	Production units	9
		GDO350	Large Stock Pregnancy Testing	Pregnancy testing	5
		KKI350	Small Stock Artificial Insemination	Small stock AI	5
		LBS370	Agricultural Management IIIA	Integrated farm planning	5
		LBV351	Agricultural Extension IA	Agric. extension	5
		OMG351	Environmental Management IIIA	Environmental management	6
		RKG350	Computer Use IIA	Applied software	3
		TEL 370	Animal Breeding III	Breeding & stud management	4
		WBR351	Game Farming IA	Game farming	5
		VVW350	Meat Processing IA	Meat processing	3
		SVW350	Dairy Processing IA	Dairy processing	3
		PDB 350	Problem Animal Control	Vermin control	2
		EQS350	Equine Studies	Horse care & handling	4
	6	DPD370	Animal Production IIIA	Production units	9
		GKI360	Large Stock Artificial Insemination	Large stock AI	5
		SDK360	Senior Dorper Course	Senior Dorper Judging course	4
		SBB360	Senior Boer Goat Course	Senior Boer Goat course	2
		LBS370	Agricultural management IIIA	Integrated farm planning	5
		LBS361	Agricultural Management IIIB	Entrepreneurship	4
		LBV361	Agricultural Extension IB	Agric. extension	5
		OMG361	Environmental management IIIB	Environmental management	6
		RKG360	Computer Use IIB	Applied software	3
		TEL370	Animal Breeding III	Applied breeding & stud management	4
		WBR361	Game Farming IB	Game farming	5
		VVW360	Meat Processing IB	Meat processing	3
		SVW360	Dairy Processing IB	Dairy processing	3

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2.3 Recruitment

An extensive recruitment campaign in the small stock farming areas of the country was launched during 2005 for the 2006 academic year. About 80% of the learners that visited the career exhibitions were from the previously disadvantaged communities. The aim of the recruitment campaign was to expose learners to agriculture and, more specifically, to small stock production and related occupations.

Thirty towns were visited and 121 schools were reached during this campaign, with 31 383 learners having the opportunity to find out more about the courses that Grootfontein offers.

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2.4 Admission

Students are admitted after qualifying on a modified Swedish system. The cut-off date for admission to the study programme was 30 November 2004. A capacity of 60 students was admitted for the academic year. Restrictions in the practical facilities place a limitation on the number of students that can be admitted. Not all the admitted students registered, owing to lack of funds. The total number of students who registered from 2001 to 2005 is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Student numbers from 2001 to 2005

From this figure it is evident that the student numbers increased remarkably over the last five years.

2.5 Results

The results of the modules presented during 2005 are shown in Table 3. The students are required to pass all the modules to qualify for the Higher Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture.

Table 3: Student academic statistics for 2005

Module	Enrolled	Passed	Pass Rate (%)	Module	Enrolled	Passed	Pass Rate (%)
KTW 111	52	42	81	DGE 121	50	40	80
TEL 111	53	47	87	LBS 121	54	40	74
VOE 111	54	35	65	VBS 121	53	44	83
DGE 111	51	47	88	PBS 121	54	44	81
EQS 110	53	49	92	GWP 121	50	44	88
LBS 111	53	49	92	GWB 121	53	41	77
PLK 111	52	45	85	ENG 121	55	17	31
GRK 111	57	41	72	ENH 120	50	29	58
ENA 111	51	51	100	SKK 120	52	51	98
ENB 111	51	51	100	KPW 120	50	48	96
ENC 111	51	45	88	KPS 120	50	50	100
END 111	56	54	96	RKG 120	50	50	100
ENE 111	53	53	100	TEL 241	54	51	94
ENF 111	53	53	100	VOE 241	53	51	94
RKG 110	51	49	96	KTA 241	54	51	94
KTW 231	52	49	94	GVB 241	52	48	92
KTV 231	53	52	98	GVM 241	51	46	90
DGE 231	53	51	96	GVP 241	53	53	100
GVV 231	52	48	92	LBS 241	53	52	98
GVO 231	52	51	98	VBS 241	55	52	95
LBS 231	53	48	91	GWA 241	54	51	94
LBR 231	52	51	98	GWB 241	53	52	98
VBS 231	51	39	76	KPB 240	53	50	94
KPA 230	52	52	100	JDK 240	52	52	100
SMM 230	52	52	100	DMK 240	53	51	96
JBB 230	56	56	100	KPS 240	54	53	98
KPW 230	52	52	100	RKG 240	53	50	94
KPS 230	52	51	98	DPD 370	29	29	100
PDB 230	52	52	100	GKI 360	24	24	100
DKB230	52	50	96	SDK 360	24	24	100
RKG 230	52	51	98	LBS 370	29	29	100
VOE 350	24	24	100	LBS 361	29	29	100
GDO 350	24	24	100	LBV 361	29	29	100
KKI 350	29	27	93	OMG 361	24	24	100
LBV 351	29	29	100	RKG 360	29	29	100
OMG 351	25	25	100	TEL 370	24	24	100
RKG 350	29	29	100	WBR 351	24	24	100
SBB 350	22	22	100	WBR 361	24	24	100
EQS 350	24	24	100	VVW 370	29	26	90
KTA 121	51	39	76	SVW 370	29	29	100
KTB 121	50	40	80	SVW 370	29	29	100

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2.6 Statistics for 2005

A significant increase in the number of students was experienced from 2001 to 2005, mainly as a result of the active recruitment campaigns during that time. However, during the same period a decrease in the applications from previously disadvantaged students (PDI’s) was experienced. The student numbers, according to gender and population group from 2001 to 2005, are given in Table 4.

Table 4: Student numbers per gender and per population group for 2001 to 2005

Gender	Population group	Number per year
Gender	Population group	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Male	PDI students*	23	14	13	16	21
	White students	57	73	74	87	97
	Sub-total Male	80	87	87	103	118
Female	PDI students	5	3	8	6	7
	White students	4	5	10	13	16
	Sub-total Female	9	8	18	19	23
Total	PDI students	28	17	21	22	28
	White students	61	78	84	100	113
	Sub-total	89	95	105	122	141

* PDI students: Students from previously disadvantaged groups

The number of previously disadvantaged students showed a good increase during 2005. The number of first years per gender admitted from 2001 to 2005 is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Admission of first year students according to gender from 2001 to 2005

A positive development that can be noticed from Table 4 is that the number of female students is steadily increasing. This is good for agriculture because women traditionally have played a prominent role in agriculture.

A summary of the total student numbers for 2005 is given in Table 5. The number is broken down into gender and population group.

Table 5: Total student numbers per year of study (2005)

Population Group	Year of study						Total
	I		II		III		Total
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total
Previously disadvantaged students	11	2	5	0	5	5	21	7	28
White students	36	5	45	7	16	4	97	16	113
Sub-total	47	7	50	7

2.1.2 Objectives of the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

Enrolled

Enrolled

II