Mrs Nicola Pather

Nicola Pather is the ‘mother’ of AKSDC – and has ignited the interest in the Bonteheuwel Community for a Skills Centre. Now known as the Ashley Kriel Skills Development Centre. AKSDC has had a phenomenal success with the Teacher Assistant Program, with many of the candidates being placed at schools where their resources and skills were much in need in an education system that is under resourced and overcrowded, giving rise to class- room management difficulties and other behavioral prob- lems making teaching nearly impossible. I therefore believe that we have made an impact in our program delivery. However like all organizations we are limited to the funding allocation for programs.With the nearest Public Enterprise Further Education College not being in close proximity, it is my desire that the Ashley Kriel Skills Development Centre can fill the gap and address the scourge of unemployment through the development of our programs that should be market related and intended to address the labour markets.AKSDC should be gearing towards skills development that is relevant and able to provide fathers and mother with a means to feed their families , such programs can include – plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying, tiling and plastering for men and for the ladies basic chefs training, table attendant, tourist guide, dress making, early childhood practitioner training also known as pre-school teaching. We are aware that the traditional teaching and learning methods will have to be altered to address the community’s need. Albeit AKSDC’s advancement in the short space of time which we are very proud of, I believe the longevity of the skills development center, lies with addressing the needs of our children where the biggest impact of change can be made going forward.Empower young people to serve their country with the high and sustained sense of patriotism and creating a cadre of community activists, value based leaders and facilitators for social change.