| What is a Learnership? |
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| A Learnership is a work-based approach to
learning and gaining qualifications and includes both structured work
experience (practical) and structured institutional learning (theory). |
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| Criteria, as set out in the Skills
Development Act, indicate that a learnership must: |
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Include a structured learning component
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Include practical work experience
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Lead to a qualification
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Relate to an occupation
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| Why Learnerships were
established |
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| The Skills Development Act and Skills
Development Levies Act were devised to implement structures and processes to
transform skills development in SA. A critical look at how employers and
training providers have provided education, training and work experience in the
past indicates that education and training provision has not always linked
theory and practice. |
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| Learnerships are intended to address the
gap between current education and training provision and the needs of the
labour market and are often seen as the crux of skills upliftment in terms of
the Skills Development Act. Learnerships seek to address the following labour
market issues: |
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the decline in levels of employment in
South Africa
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the unequal distribution of income
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unequal access to education and
training, and employment opportunities
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the effects of race, gender and
geographical location on advancement
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the skills shortage amongst the labour
force
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| Why are Learnerships
Important? |
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The programme is outcomes-based
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The learner interacts within the
working environment (practical)
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The learner interacts with clients and
obtains an understanding of workplace dynamics
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Assessment occurs at various stages and
is based on the learners’ competence (learner centered)
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The qualification is recognised both
nationally and is benchmarked against international standards
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| How to Participate in a
Learnership? |
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Plan a career path
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Identify the learnership that supports
the chosen career path
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Find out as much information as
possible about the learnership
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Enquire about the applicable criteria
for entering the learnership
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Find an employer willing to provide
practical work experience
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