Formal Training through ABATTOIR SKILLS TRAINING
A need was identified for a registered Further Education and Training College in the meat and related industries. Abattoir Skills Training (Pty) Ltd (AST) was established by the Red Meat Abattoir Association in accordance with the relevant legislation. AST conducts generic and specific food safety and quality training in the meat industry and related industries.
The majority of the programmes offered by AST are based on unit standards and are registered at the relevant SETA. Each unit standard is allocated a credit value which dictates the amount of learning time required to complete. A credit represents 10 notional hours of learning. This means that it is estimated that it will take the slowest learner 10 hours to master the contents of a unit standard worth 1 credit. This time includes both theory and practical.
The NQF framework (National Qualifications Framework), indicates the level at which a qualification or a unit standard is registered with SAQA. E.g. the National Certificate General Abattoir Processes is registered at NQF level 2 while a National Diploma is registered at NQF level 5.
AST offers the following skills training and learnerships:
| SKILLS PROGRAMMES SUMMARY | DURATION | CREDITS | NQF LEVEL |
| Generic Programmes | |||
| HMS & HACCP | 4 Days | 27 | 4 |
| GMP & HACCP | 4 Days | 25 | 4 |
| Food Safety Internal Auditors Course | 4 Days | -* | – |
| Food Safety Lead Auditor Course | 5 Days | -* | – |
| Food Safety Management Systems Awareness | 1 Day | 6 | 3 |
| Hygiene Awareness | 1 Day | 4 | 2 |
| Environmental Standards Workshop | 1 Day | -* | – |
| Environmental Standards Implementation Course | 4 Days | -* | – |
| Occupational Health and Safety Workshop | 1 Day | -* | – |
| Occupational Health and Safety Implementation Course | 4 Days | -* | – |
| HIV Awareness | 1 Day | 3 | 2 |
| Basic Business Principles | 2 ½ Days | 9 | 3 |
| Abattoir Specific Programmes | |||
| Animal Handling | 4 Days | 24 | 2 |
| Basic Introduction to the Abattoir Industry | 1 Day | 3 | 2 |
| Deboning – Beef | 3 Days | 40 | 3 |
| Deboning – Pork | 2 Days | 28 | 3 |
| Deboning – Small Stock | 1 Day | -* | 1 |
| Introductory Abattoir Hygiene | 1 ½ Days | 11 | 2 |
| Meat Inspection Course (Refresher) | 2 Days | 24 | 4 |
| Slaughter Programme – Beef | 4 Days | -* | – |
| Slaughter Programme – Pork | 3 Days | -* | – |
| Slaughter Programme – Small Stock | 3 Days | -* | – |
| LEARNERSHIP SUMMARY | DURATION | CREDITS | NQF LEVEL |
| National Certificate in General Abattoir Processes | 1 Year | 120 | 2 |
| Further Education and Training Certificate in Meat Examination | 1 Year | 160 | 4 |
| Further Education and Training Certificate in Meat Classification | 1 Year | 144 | 4 |
*Non-unit standards based programmes