Western Cape Province Learnership Programmes 2015

Whilst all the Western Cape Government bursaries for next year (2015) have closed, there are still learnerships available. One is an exciting project that will help WC matriculants who want to get into the public service as a career; the other is for volunteers who want to make a difference in the field of education. Both are for a year.

PAY Learnership Programme

Applications for the Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) Project will be open from 7th to 31st January 2015 and successful applicants will work for the Province for a year from April 2015 until the end of March 2016. This work experience will provide free training, and invaluable experience working for the public service.

The opportunities offered by the Western Cape Province are in keeping with the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority’s (EtdpSETA) stated mission to ensure that the South African workforce will be “better educated and informed”.

The idea of the PAY Learnership Programme is to help those wanting to start a career in the public service get a new set of skills and get experience that will ultimately make them more employable and more marketable in the sector. Ultimately the programme provides work experience and a year during which participants can make “informed career choices”.

The programme provides public sector, on-the-job training in the full range of provincial departments; specifically in the Department of:

the Premier
Agriculture
Community Safety
Cultural Affairs and Sport
Economic Development and Tourism
Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Health
Human Settlements
Local Government
Social Development
Transport and Public Works

as well as in the

Provincial Treasury
Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

A total of about 750 matriculants from the class of 2014 will secure positions, providing they:

Have passed the Western Cape National Senior Certificate this year
Are not planning to study next year
Are South African citizens who live in the Western Cape
Do not have support or any form of network that will help with career choices
Are not sure what to do once they have left school
Are financially “constrained”
Are aged between 18 and 24

If you fit this profile, then bookmark the Western Cape website and diarise the opening and closing dates for applications (7th to 31st January 2015).

Year Beyond Programme

Another learnership opportunity currently being offered by the Western Cape Government is the Year Beyond Programme, an educational enrichment opportunity that involves dedicating 12 months to helping at schools in the province that are underperforming.

While volunteers give there time without remuneration, they get the chance to enhance their economic and social networks, and gain access to work experience. There are also bursary opportunities for the future.

Essentially the Year Beyond learnership programme involves tutoring both primary and secondary school pupils after school hours in subjects they are struggling with, primarily English, mathematics, technology and science. For this reason, it is essential for participants to be committed, motivated and to have been high-achievers at school. Important qualities include:

Excellent leadership capabilities
Good academic results, particularly in the subjects mentioned above
A proven track record that indicates community involvement
Good skills when it comes to solving problems
The ability to be able to work in an environment that is diverse
Good interpersonal skills
An innovative and creative flair

The Year Beyond Programme is open to local volunteers and to people from other countries who are no older than 24 years. Applicants must have achieved at least a 60 percent pass in English and maths in matric, and they must have good computer skills. Qualities that are required include personal initiative, leadership skills, courage and the ability to self manage. They must also be able to demonstrate a commitment that they will aim to make a difference and impact on the lives of other people.

Where to find the application form?

Applications for this exciting leadership programme, which runs from January to November 2015, close on 30th November. It is essential to complete the APPLICATION FORM, and then either email it to apply@yearbebyond.org.za or deliver to the Western Cape Government Contact Centre in Wale Street in the Cape Town city centre.

Wholesale and Retail Learnerships by W&RSETA

The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA), which has been operating in terms of the Skills Development Act for more than 14 years, implements strategies for national development in the huge wholesale and retail sector.

One of it’s most important roles is to initiate learnerships that enable “learners” to improve their knowledge, skills and ability in their chosen career. Learnerships also enable students to get a formal qualification that will enable them to get into the wholesale and retail industry quicker and more easily.

There is absolutely no doubt that people who take this route get increased employment opportunities once they have qualified. It is also an excellent route for learners who are already employed, but who are earning low wages because they do not have a proper qualification or the necessary experience to get ahead.

One of the most valuable aspects, as the W&RSETA points out, is that students are able to learn while they earn.

Benefits of Learnerships for Employers

Committed employers in the W&R sector agree that a learnership – which is essentially a “work-based education and training programme” linked to a valid registered National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualification – is one of the best ways to facilitate empowerment of employees. It is also a brilliant way to develop a competent staff complement within businesses, and to ensure that workers get the relevant (very specific to an individual business) skills and experience.

Since employees who are qualified and experienced need less supervision, this will also improve the quality of work within the business, as well as overall productivity.

Employers also find that this is an ideal vehicle that may be used to address their employment equity targets, as well as to identify gaps that relate to skills and training.

Benefits for the W&R Industry as a Whole

The W&RSETA identifies three primary ways that learnerships benefit the industry:

1. They help to create a pool of skill personnel that is made up of more professional people.
2. They help to provide the W&R industry with direction so that it can develop according to general world standards.
3. The result of this programme is aimed to help the industry become more competitive in the global market as a whole.

The Role of the SETA in the Learnership Programme

While the W&RSETA facilitates and implements the programme, it does not recruit learners. This is the responsibility of the various employers and service providers, as well as training providers that specialise in industry-related learning opportunities.

To assist employers, service providers and training organisations and institutions, the SETA has formed partnerships with the Department of Labour (specifically the regional offices), the Centre for Youth Development (CYD), and the South African Graduates Association (SAGA) that provide databases of unemployed people who are looking for opportunities in the industry.

How to Register?

So if you are keen to forge a career in the wholesale and retail sector, make sure you are on at least one of these databases. There is also a list of registered qualifications and learnerships that is published by the W&RSETA. Currently all registration end dates are June 30, 2015. There is a Learnership Agreement on the W&RSETA website.

Tag: learnerships