group of 100 previously-unemployed people`s chances of finding skilled work have taken a turn for the better following the launch of a R3 million series of ISETT SETA `learnerships` at the HP i-community in Limpopo.
The move is just one of the many community education and development initiatives being driven by the HP i-community - a public-private partnership that started 18 months ago to develop new models of sustainable development across the Mogalakwena Municipality of Limpopo.
ISETT SETA is the Sector Education Training Authority for the local information and communications technology (ICT) market. It offers a variety of fully-funded learnerships - vocational education and training programmes that, once completed, provide graduates with qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
In the case of the partnership with the HP i-community, ISETT SETA committed approximately R3 million to fund year-long learnerships in four different areas: technical support, systems support, call centre technology and venture creation. A total of 25 places were made available for each course.
"The learnerships were advertised in the Limpopo press and, as expected, were somewhat oversubscribed. After interviews and a screening session overseen by the Department of Labour, 100 post-matric candidates were selected and signed up," explains Imraan Jassat, the manager of capacity building at the HP i-community.
"Local training specialist, Knowledgeworx, came on board as the lead training provider and co-ordinated with the trainers from the i-community. The intention is for graduates to become part of a team that can support the varied ICT aspects of the HP i-community`s extended network infrastructure. Of course, it also strengthens their chances of finding other kinds of work in the future."
With this in mind, the learnerships mix theoretical and practical education. This is where the i-community provides the ideal training ground.
A high-speed network connects the headquarters in Mahwelereng with the satellite HP i-community centre in Rebone; it`s expected that this network will be expanded to include other towns, villages and sites across the municipality in the future. Over 20 buildings have been equipped with PCs, Internet access and other technology, creating a series of community access points (CAPs). There is also a call centre set up at the headquarters. This widespread technology infrastructure will be used as the basis for the students` hands-on training.
"Since kicking off early last month, we`ve focused primarily on theoretical aspects of the course - basic PC operations using the Linux and Open office suite of products, for example," says Leslie Strachan, the COO at Knowledgeworx.
"However, all the learners will begin their practical training later this month and this will make up about half their total course time."
While much has been made of `bridging digital divides` and providing technology advances for rural communities, the ISETT SETA learnerships are about providing a solid foundation on which people can develop real-life, work-related skills; technology is merely an enabler in this respect.
"This is an investment that`s well worth making," notes Oupa Mopaki, CEO of ISETT SETA, speaking on his company`s commitment.
"More than half of Mogalakwena`s residents are unemployed, many villages lack access to basic services and income levels are generally very low. Consequently, there is a severe shortage of skills in the province, especially when it comes to business and technology. This is something that we are hoping to change through the learnership programmes."
For more information on the HP i-community, visit www.hpicommunity.org.za. ISETT SETA can be found on the Web at www.isett.org.za, and Knowledgeworx at www.knowledgeworx.co.za.
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