Skills development in a changing South African climate

A growing South African economy and unacceptably high levels of unemployment clearly highlight a need for capacity building and skills development across all sectors of the economy. Following government's launch of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) in 2000, efforts within these structures have focused on identifying the skills requirements of the different sectors to enable an adequate and appropriate response to the demand.

As part of this drive, the Services Seta has established a national chain of franchised Career Centres. The Centres are mandated to recruit learners for accredited Services Seta learnerships and broker the interactions between training and assessment providers and the learners requiring assessment. The Career Centres are located in cities such as Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

Earlier this year, The Innovation Hub welcomed the Pretoria Career Centre as a tenant in the Enterprise Building. According to Centre Director Catherine Dalton, although located in Pretoria the Centre reach extends as far as Thohoyandou, Nelspruit and Phalaborwa.

The Career Centre was established in 2001 by Directors Catherin and Jo Dalton, after their company, Class A Trading, was awarded the franchise by the Services Seta. Since then, the Centre has become a lead employer for 37 project management learners and the first to have a learner complete a full Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) course and proceed into a Services Seta learnership. Two learners are currently assisting in the Centre.

Despite the moratorium on learnerships in effect until July this year, the Pretoria Career Centre has been focusing on pre-assessment, particularly the recognition of prior learning. It is also involved e-learning for learners and staff of Services Seta members, which includes the International Computer Driver's License and e-based ABET courses.

In addition to services for learners, the Centre also provides various business services. These include skills audits, the development of workplace skills plan and interviews with suitable learners. According to Catherine Dalton, "It is within these areas that we see our relationship with The Innovation Hub bearing the most fruit in assisting tenants with their human resource planning. New companies can approach us to identify staff training needs and the availability of learnerships through the Seta."

The education climate in South Africa poses interesting challenges for the Centre and similar institutions. Finding candidates who qualify and show commitment to the programmes is one of the largest obstacles. While recruiting targets mainly graduate learners which result in candidates mostly from urban areas, it has been found those from rural area are far more dedicated and committed.

According to Jim Dalton, however, there are a number of Government initiatives that will help them improve the services they offer. "The recent Department of Education budget vote announced by Minister Naledi Pandor, and the 'Six Doors of Learning' development plan in particular, are going to make a dramatic difference to learning in South Africa," he concluded.

For more information contact Catherine Dalton on +27 844 1155.

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