On Friday 6 April 2001 the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) held a graduation ceremony for its Learnership Programme students who successfully completed their training in the Oracle, VAG, LAN, and Operations environments. The Honourable minister for the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi attended the function and gave a keynote address.
The SITA Learnership Programme was established in April 1999. In accordance with the SITA mandate, the programme aims to provide Government and the private sector with much needed IT/IS skilled resources to further enhance IT service delivery in today's Information Age.
SITA successfully trained a total of 85 students in the respective environments of Oracle, VAG, LAN and Operations since April 2000 and over 350 students since its establishment. SITA has managed to place a significant number of these students at various IT organisations across South Africa through partnerships with placement agencies as well as taking some under its own wing.
The Minister conveyed her best wishes to the students for making the effort to arm themselves with the skills for the Information Age. "One social theorist said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. You already have made yours, so enjoy your journey until destination point", she said.
She told students that they are key in narrowing the gap of the Digital Devide. "You are part of the core to make change happen and make government services accessible to all South African citizens", she said. She encouraged students to focus on making a paperless government happen through their active participation.
The Minister extended her gratitude to SITA for sustaining such a learnership programme that helps to create the necessary pool of marketable skills important for South Africa today.
SITA Managing Director, Colin van Schalkwyk, presented a certificate of completion to each student and thanked the mentors for their time and enthusiasm to make the SITA Learnership Programme the success it is.
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