Optima College

Situated in Pretoria, Optima College is the first tertiary (Further Education and Training) institute for blind and partially sighted people. It offers vocational training in the computer and call centre fields, to people of all groups and areas of South Africa, and beyond.

Click the links for more information on Computer Training, Braille Literacy, Call Centre Training, Fee Structure and Entry Criteria.

Computer Training
Our computer training course offers students the opportunity to learn basic software, including word processing and spreadsheet programmes, Internet and e-mail – as well as how to use either screen-reader or screen-magnification software.

The course runs over 5 months and two cycles are offered for a maximum of 20 students per cycle.  Students may make a choice of the modules for which they want to enrol and then register and pay for those modules only.

Cycle 1 : Feb-June

Month	Instructor A
February	Keyboard Skills
March	Access Software
April	Word
May	Excel
June	Internet, E-mail and Devices

Month	Instructor B
February	Access Software
March	Word
April	Excel
May	Internet, E-mail and Devices
June	Advanced Windows and advanced JAWS

Cycle 2 offers the same programme from July-Nov.

All students go through assessment before the course starts, to determine the level of skill already achieved.  Should a student have acceptable keyboard skills and typing speed and accuracy, he/she may start with the Windows module.  If not, he/she will have to first develop the appropriate keyboard skills and typing speed and accuracy which is crucial to computer training. 

Where one module builds on another, and the student wishes to only do the more advanced one, an admission exam will have to be written before the student can start with the more advanced one.

Braille literacy
Students are taught how to read and write in braille, giving them access to books and magazines and enabling them to record information for personal use.

Call Centre training
Opticall, the SANCB's own call centre, has two accredited facilitators who train visually impaired learners in Call Centre support on a NQF level 2 qualification. 

Endorsed by Damelin and the Services Seta – which, together with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), is also one of our biggest clients – our high quality training has three components, namely:

1. Soft skills training e.g. stress management, time management, communication skills and selling skills.
2. Computer training e.g. Windows XP, Internet, e-mail and excel.
3. Simulation training where inbound and outbound scenarios are simulated.

So far, Opticall has trained 45 blind and partially sighted call centre operators. Opticall offers all the traditional benefits of outsourcing in addition to a strong element of corporate social responsibility.

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Fees
Please contact us for information related to current fees for tuition and hostel accommodation.

Tel. Agnes Mansena on 012-452 3811 or e-mail agnes@sancb.org.za

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Entry criteria
The minimum admission qualification for the above courses is Grade 12 (matric), but persons with Grade 10 (std 8) will also be considered on merit. The successful completion of a computer literacy course is a prerequisite for call centre training.

It is assumed that students who apply for the vocational training courses at Optima College, have gone through independence training and are thus able to take care of themselves in terms of food preparation, laundry, cleaning of rooms and bathrooms, etc.

Only a limited number of students can be admitted for tuition and a selection of candidates will therefore be made.

The financial arrangements are as follows:
Hostel accommodation:  payable monthly in advance.

Tuition:  payable in full during or at the end of the course, or according to an arrangement between the student and the Finance Department of the SANCB.

Students are invited to click here for application form. Completed forms may be returned to agnes@sancb.org.za or faxed for attention Agnes to 012 3461149

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