NTHA Celebrates Graduation Of Candidates In Two Hospitality Programmes

NTHA COLUMN

NTHA CELEBRATES GRADUATION OF CANDIDATES IN TWO HOSPITALITY PROGRAMMES

The excited graduates of the two hospitality programmes

The National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) was excited to celebrate its graduates in two hospitality programmes at the end of 2017: the 14110 Professional Cooker Learnership and the Assistant Chef Level 2.

The 14110 Professional Cooker Learnership is equal to 152 credits and took 12 months to complete, while the Assistant Chef Level 2 is equal to 52 credits. It took three months to complete the theory, with the practicals funded by the mother body of the Catering school, NTHA. NTHA has the objective of changing the lives of previously challenged candidates by offering courses to their members and the community. It aims to challenge unemployment through skills development, so that candidates can gain access to opportunities in the hospitality industry, and even start their own businesses. They will then provide services to travel and tourism businesses within Gauteng. NTHA’s strategy is to place candidates in top-performing organisations in the hospitality industry. Through its partnership with the Restaurant Association of South Africa, NTHA has placed candidates at Spur, Panarottis, John Dory’s, Spar, Shoprite, and local hotels and restaurants. Most of these candidates have completed extended kitchen management courses that allowed them to be competent junior restaurant managers. This year, NTHA has extended its scope of host employers to provide opportunities for its professional cooker and assistant chef students, with some already being placed. The professional cookery learners had a challenging 12 months, but the skills were transferred and they were able to induct and coach the assistant chef learners on NTHA-hosted functions and events. There has been excellent collaboration between Ndofaya Hospitality Academy, Tswellopele Hospitality Academy, Tharabollo Skills Connection and CATHSSETA to deliver this joint venture programme. At the graduation event, we were blessed with the presence of members of the South African Chefs’ Association (SACA), including Mike Khoza, vice president of SACA. Previous graduates who are in the busiest kitchens in the country on a daily basis, were there to acknowledge and give words of insight into the hospitality industry to the new graduates. As a business owner in the hospitality industry, NTHA secretary, Phumzile Ratladi, gave words of advice to the candidates, and also helped to place candidates at events she hosted. NTHA chairperson, Monde Dhladhla – for decades a business owner in the hospitality industry – gave fatherly advice to the candidates of the programme. Ndofaya Hospitality Academy principal and president of NTHA, Fanny Mokoena, who hosted candidates at Fanny’s Restaurant for their workplace exposure, shared her experiences and gave motherly advice to the candidates. Positive feedback was provided by moderator Sizwe Nkosi and facilitators Selina Modise and Khathutshelo Ngwasheng, who all shared their experiences on working with the candidates from induction until they were competent. The day was filled with joy as parents arrived to witness the achievement of their children, and listened to the students giving their positive feedback of the programme. Ndofaya Hospitality Academy is currently taking applications for 2018 enrolment in the Level 4 Professional Cookery Learnership and Level 2 Assistant Chef Programme.

For enquiries, visit Ndofaya Hospitality Academy at Makhosini/Chief’s House, 22237 Senzangakhona Street, Zone 4, Meadowlands, 1852, email info@meadowlandstourism.co.za or call 011 536 0267, 082 576 0267 or 064 346 8520.