Biography: |
Learnerships
The Department of Labour brought in new laws to develop the skills of the citizens of our country. These are the Skills Development Act, 1998 and Skills Development Levies Act, 1999. Employers are for example obliged to contribute money in the form of a skills levy, to ensure funding is available for skills development.
New learning programmes were also developed. One of the new learning programmes that were established, is called a learnership. This is a learning programme that you can seriously consider, since it can provide you with a qualification and many other benefits, such as a learning allowance and working experience. Let us look at learnerships in more detail.
What is a learnership?
A learnership is a work-based learning programme that leads to a nationally recognised qualification. Thus, learners in learnerships have to attend classes at a college or training centre to complete classroom-based learning, and they also have to complete on-the-job training in a workplace. This means that unemployed people can only participate in a learnership, if there is an employer that is willing to provide the required work experience.
You can do a learnership not only in the traditional trade areas, but also in other learning fields, such as tourism and security services. Learnerships combine a structured learning programme with practical work experience at a company, government department or small business.
Training in classes/college/training centre + on-the-job training at employer = learnership.
How long does it take to complete Waterberg TVET College Learnership?
It usually takes a year, but some learnerships can take two or more years. It is possible for learners to complete a learnership in a shorter time through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This is a process through which learners will get recognition for parts of the programme for learning done previously or for work experience. You will receive a nationally recognised qualification upon successful completion of the learnership. |