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02 April 2019
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Story Valentino Ndaba
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Photo Charl Devenish
Pictured are 8 of the 64 UFS School of Accountancy students who form part of the 84.2% pass rate achievers.
Students from the University of the Free State (UFS) School of Accountancy achieved a 84.2% pass rate compared to the national average of 76.2% during the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination facilitated by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
A total of 64 out of 76 UFS students who attempted the ITC for the first time were successful in the examination. The ITC is known for its challenging nature. Demographically, our African black students outperformed the 62.1% national pass rate by attaining an impressive 80.6%.
Collective congratulations
Prof Hentie van Wyk, Programme Director at the school, attributed diligence for the high pass rate. “This is due to our student-centred teaching module that was introduced four years ago and committed academic staff of the School of Accountancy from the first to the fourth year.”
Further future surge expected
“With the coming June 2019 ITC sitting, our pass rate for 2019 will most probably be more than 90%. Our three-year rolling average for 2015-2017, 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 were 83%, 86% and 90% respectively. Hopefully we can maintain the upward curve,” said Prof Van Wyk.
UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters
2008-05-15
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At the training session for court interpreters that took place on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein recently are, from the left, front: Ms Zandile Mtolo, Pietermaritzburg, Ms Lindiwe Gamede, Bethlehem; back: Mr Sipho Majombozi, Port Shepstone, Prof. Lotriet, and Mr Mzi Nombewu, Upington. The four learners are working at their respective magistrates courts.
Photo: Lacea Loader |
UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters
A contract to the value of R3,6-million has been awarded to the University of the Free State (UFS) to train court interpreters throughout South Africa.
The contract was awarded to the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice at the UFS by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA).
“We are the only tertiary institution in the country that offers a national diploma in court interpreting. It provides a unique opportunity to court interpreters to be trained by a group of eight lecturers who are experts in the field,” says Prof. Annelie Lotriet, associate professor at the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice.
Prof. Lotriet is an internationally renowned interpreting expert who was also responsible for the training of interpreters for the former Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
According to Prof. Lotriet no co-ordinated training programmes for court interpreters existed and there was also no control over the training processes. The programme, initiated by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, is managed by the SASSETA. “It is the first time that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development initiates such an extensive training programme for court interpreters,” says Prof. Lotriet.
The group of 100 court interpreters on the programme are from all over the country. Of the group, ten are unemployed learners who interpret for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on an ad-hoc basis.
The programme, which stretches over two years, comprises of theoretical and service training. Contact sessions take place in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Cape Town, four times a year for two weeks at a time. The second contact session for Bloemfontein was recently completed.
“Learners are nominated by their regional offices. The programme consists of interpreting theory, interpreting practice and basic law subjects. The training material is developed and written by the SASSETA and facilitated and presented by the UFS. The learners interpret in all the 11 languages. Some of them can speak a couple of languages each,” says Prof. Lotriet.
“Everything is going very well with the programme and we are receiving a lot of positive feedback from the learners. This first group is an experiment and it depends on their success whether the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will expand the programme,” says Prof. Lotriet.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
15 May 2008
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