SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL OFFROAD TRAINERS ASSOCIATION (SANOTA)
Aims , Issues and Solutions
At the time of the meeting in September the Group of Trainers in Cape
Town felt that we were looking at 4x4 Trainers issues only and tried
not to overlap with any other Offroad concerns but that is not totally
possible in certain instances ie Trails for training, 4x4 Clubs, etc.
Before any issues were concluded as much input from Glyn Demmer and
other related sources was looked at so as not to repeat any progress
already made.
We decided that an association /group that would mediate and communicate all issues relating to 4x4 Training issues.
NB (Since then ALL Offroad Trainers are welcome to represent their
Professions and use SANOTA as their platform ..ie Quad and Bike
trainers .)
So..
SANOTA
South African National Offroad Trainers Association.. has been formed..
The regions can be added by adding the regions abbreviation ie SANOTA WC ,EC or GP etc
if needed.…
This association would represent and liase all Offroad Training Issues
, National and Regional and be made up of Offroad Trainers from
each region.
This Association would represent us at the George meeting 18,19, 20 thOctober.
Representative's from each region would be appreciated /needed
and we would get together vie email /video conference and present one
paper at the meeting.
After the meeting in George this Association would continue..
Our thoughts for the Purpose of SANOTA would be:
OUR AIM
To be a contact place for clients looking for 4x4 (Offroad )
Trainers , be it for Training or Product knowledge /training on
particular 4x4s.
Have a list of Accredited 4x4 (Offroad ) Trainers
Accredited or Suitable Venues for Training
(For Basic Techniques , Sand or Rock s etc)
Ensure Uniformity and Gradings of Training for Instructors and Drivers at different levels.
A place for Trainers to Consult , Register , Meet , Voice Concerns etc.
A place for Any Related 4x4/Offroad Industries to communicate with regarding 4x4 Training Issues.
A place for Government , Tourism , Nature Conservation and other related /concerned bodies to liase/communicate.
A place for Trail owners to also consult and communicate.
(Any other suggestions welcome ..)
ISSUES and SOLUTIONS:
Regarding Trainers and Accreditation …
We would like to see :
Unit Standards for Trainers ..ie Levels 1, 2 ,3…
A Training Syllabus/Curriculum as per basics of Offroad Driving Techniques.
Eco Content..what should be included for Eco Protection..? Assistance from Nature Conservation or suggestions ?
Accreditation and Training for Trainers. We would like to receive
external training that would assist us in doing our job of training
more professionally ie Assessment training , Teaching methods
that would enhance Offroad knowledge to the clients etc.. Product
knowledge of different brands of 4x4 or Offroad Vehicles.
Assessment of Trainers with existing track record , knowledge and experience taken into account.
Evaluation of Trainers on a regular basis so as to keep standards and knowledge up to date.
A system that evaluates drivers that have attended training plus accreditation for them as well.
All records of drivers who have attended courses to be available .( An Audit system)
Whoever does the evaluations of the 4x4/Offroad Trainers should be from their Region so as to save costs .
These Assessors to be in National Agreement. (All belong to SANOTA.)
A system like CSI to be made possible for feedback .
Who would be appointed to give the Trainers their accreditation? (credibility of these people etc)
A
system of Identification : For 4x4 /Offroad Trainers and
Drivers to establish their
Credibility..
This Identification could be a license disc, permit, certificate .
Regarding Irresponsible behavior Offroad :
This Identification could used as reference for reporting to a Policing
Committee or Traffic Police or who is appointed to deal with unlawful
practices Offroad.
We the Trainers will assist in reporting but feel that we do not have the authority to enforce or be policeman.
And lastly ..once a formal Association is up and running , funding for
expenses would come about ..and the generation of these funds would be
from what source?
In conclusion I , Trevor Knutsen , would like to thank all who have
provided their input ,directly and indirectly..as well as I urge all
the other 4x4/ Offroad Trainers or Organizations involved with
4x4 /Offraod Training to PLEASE add their Issues and Solutions .
ASAP…
NB>>We have very little time ..please forward all input
so we can assimilate it and put our ”White Paper” forward at George on
the 18 th to the 20 th Oct 2005.
We need representation from each region .
Costs to George ?
At present we are paying out of our private funds , but we are
trying to find financial or other assistance for all costs for the
Trainers who want to assist in representing a Unified Group
(SANOTA) in George.
To support or belong to SANOTA does not require any money at present .
It might need Trainers to register and pay a yearly subscription ..but
that has not been looked at as our priority is to come up with
Offroad policies or suggestions for Government Implementation.
To sum up:
We the Trainers are probably the best candidates for this task of 4x4
/Offroad Education as we are and have been teaching and practicing Eco
Sensitive Practices for many years…
We feel that SANOTA is offering a long term solution to the problem
of irresponsible offroading through the strongest way possible , that
is through 4x4/Offroad Driver Training and Eco Education.
