What is Electrical Technology?
Electrical Technology focuses on the understanding and application of electrical and electronic principles. The subject focuses on three main areas of specialisation, namely:
- Electrical (Power Systems)
- Electronics
- Digital Electronics
Career Opportunities in Electrical Technology
Electrical Technology unlocks a world of potential opportunities to any learner taking the subject. Owing to the nature of electrical Technology, it is easy and relatively cheap to setup and operate an electrical/electronic/digital workshop at home for the purpose of starting a business or to practise a hobby for personal gain.
Learners that opt for careers not related to the subject will have sufficient knowledge and skills at the end of Grade12 to continue experimenting for the purpose of self-tuition and the practice of electrical technique.
Learners taking Electrical Technology will opt for one of the following study opportunities:
- Apprenticeship to become an artisan
- Study at a FET college in a vocational career pathway
- Enter higher education at a University of Technology or any academic University
- Enter the world of work as an entrepreneur or working with an entrepreneur
- Enter higher education to study technical education in order to become a technical teacher.
- Career and life experience opportunities that exist for learners with a foundation in Electrical Technology include:
- Electrical fitter
- Electrical or electronic engineer
- Electrical draughtsperson
- Electrical or electronic technician
- Electrical or electronic technologist
- Digital / software engineer
- Academic in the field of Electrical Technology
- Electronic mechanic
- Auto-electrician
- Electrician
- Radio technician
- Cell phone technician
- Communications technician
- PLC programming expert
- Electronics programming engineer
- Computer technician
- Robotics engineer
- Mechatronics technician
- Installation electrician
- Radio amateur
- Electronic hobbyist
- Radio control enthusiast
- Production manager
Specific Aims
Electrical Technology as a whole aims to equip the learner with a firm foundation in electronic and electrical principles which has been translated from a knowledge base into practical skills by the end of Grade 12.
Through the integrated completion of theoretical work, practical assessment tasks (PAT) and simulations the following skills are developed:
- safe work practices
- good housekeeping
- first aid practices
- interpreting circuit diagrams
- sourcing components
- constructing circuits
- installation, testing and troubleshooting of circuits
- taking measurements
- workshop practice.
Knowledge of subject principles combined with applied electrical skills equips the electrical Technology learner with a unique set of skills, placing her/him apart from other learners and in a category much desired by industry, tertiary institutions and entrepreneurs. Learners with electrical Technology markedly fare better, during the first two years at tertiary level when studying engineering, than learners without this background, giving them the advantage when studying engineering. The need for skilled workers in South Africa has been outlined numerous times in national strategies such as the National Skills Fund (NSF), ASGISA and more.
The aim is to develop the skills levels of learners from Grade 10-12 to such an extent that they are able to enter a career pathway as soon as possible. Despite portability issues into NCV courses, learners with electrical Technology are able to enter the world of work as an apprentice or enter into a learnership following matriculation.