Isett Seta has placed 1 452 learners in long-term employment on successful completion of their learning programmes and 1 368 learners were given the opportunity to progress to the next levels of the learning programmes, surpassing its target of 264.
This was revealed at Isett Seta's annual report for the year beginning 1 April 2009, ending on 31 March 2010. Isett Seta says in the year under review, it has managed its funds with due diligence and performance targets were exceeded.
According to chairperson of the Isett Seta Board, Lesaiye Chiloane: “The impact of these interventions is evidenced by, among other issues, the big capacity levels in ICT infrastructure, content and service provision during the major sporting events that the country hosted in the recent times.”
It is worth noting that these successes were achieved amid the over-emphasis from certain quarters on a critical shortage of skilled ICT personnel in our country, he points out.
After dark
The CEO of Isett Seta, Oupa Mopaki, says in the year 2009-2010, Isett Seta began to reap the benefits of creating a solid institutional platform for addressing the various skills needs that were identified in the ICT Sector, also taking into account that ICT skills needs to change rapidly over time due to global imperatives.
It is acknowledged that the foregone global economic meltdown also had an impact on the local ICT Sector and stifled economic growth and possible job opportunities for unemployed youth who have successfully completed their skills programmes, he says.
“It is envisaged that in the current global economic upturn, ICT companies will be able to place more learners in permanent employment on completion of their learning programmes.”
He also says on the other hand - and also in mitigation of the forgoing scenario - Isett Seta's broad strategy includes the establishment of technology hubs and incubation centres in partnership with key ICT companies.
This is so that workplace simulation becomes an integral part of the training that takes place in the said institutions, thereby providing good grounding for learners in training, Mopaki says.
Challenges acknowledged
Mopaki says the major challenge that Isetta Seta is currently confronted with is its continued excellence in performance.
“This calls for management to guard against inertia and to maintain efficacy, as preparations are underway to embrace the national Skills Development Strategy III and the new Seta landscape.”
The other challenge facing the Seta that he points out is to learn and investigate as to why ICT graduates who have undergone internship programmes are still not employed whereas they are placed with reputable companies, employment is still not guaranteed.
Chiloane says: “Whilst we welcome the success of Isetta Seta, we are acutely aware of the disparity between the huge opportunities for skills development and fewer job opportunities available in the ICT Sector due to a number of factors.”
He promises that the Seta will continue to forge partnerships with stakeholders to create self-employment opportunities through venture creation initiatives such as incubation for qualifying learners.
“Isetta Seta has built on previous success to create a sustainable regime for the development of skills in the ICT sector by forging value-add partnerships with a number of stakeholders' organisations, Further Education and Training Colleges and the interested parties,” he says.
New landscape
The other thing that was highlighted was that Mappp Seta is to collaborate with Isett Seta, which will result in a new Seta to be known as the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Seta (MICTS).
According to the head of education and quality assurance, Charlton Philiso, the impending landscape is most welcomed. “There was a lot of overlap between the two setas.
“If you look at convergence issues, where all modes of communication and information are continually reforming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, this move can only improve the way we address convergence issues.”
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