SAPMA training very much alive

Deryck Spence of SAPMA says it has come to the association’s notice that CHIETA was advising some SAPMA members that SAPMA/SAPITI was no longer providing training. “This misinformation was confirmed by the fact that SAPITI’s name had been removed from the SAQA website and replaced by that of a rival company,” says Spence.

Spence says the malicious rumours were unfortunately boosted by some confusion arising among members from SAPMA’s suspension of the Paint Technology training programme due to the high cost of tuition on one-onone basis. “The course was originally designed for distance learning and developed into a classroom lecture programme that became impossible to continue. It was for this reason that a new training programme was developed late 2018 and was presented to the SAPMA Executive Committee meeting in September 2018, where it was sanctioned. Unfortunately, this information has not been disseminated within member companies and this has led to confusion.

“In addition, considerable discussion was held at last year’s AGM regarding the travelling time and time off for company personnel taking courses, leading to considerable productive time being lost. In developing the new programme, we have endeavoured to eradicate this lost production time.

“But, above all, members should please note that SAPMA and its training arm, SAPITI, are still the official training providers to the coatings industry,” adds Spence. c

For full details of the SAPMA/SAPITI training programme for 2019, contact training@sapma.org.za or visit the SAPMA www.sapma.org.za.