Unlocking Your Potential: Why Learnerships are Perfect for School Leavers
Congratulations! You’ve officially stepped into a new and exciting period of your life as you work towards starting your dream career. If you’re eager to learn while you gain valuable work experience, then you should consider enrolling in a learnership programme in South Africa. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the various benefits of learnerships, from enhancing career opportunities to forging valuable connections. We’ll also guide you through the learnership requirements, application process, and expectations. This will help you make an informed decision on which learning path is suitable for you.
Learnership Meaning: How Learnerships work in 2023
A learnership is a work-based learning programme that focuses on a unique blend of theoretical and practical learning components. This means that students will spend a portion of the learnership completing theory-based work with a facilitator and another portion of their time gaining workplace experience at a registered company. These programmes usually take 12 months to complete, however, there are certain cases where learnerships can be completed in a shorter timeframe.
Learnerships were first established in the post-apartheid era to give designated groups access to quality education and a chance to enter into the workplace. Skills training only forms one part of the BBBEE system, often referred to as Skills Development. This is why a learnership can also be referred to as a Skills Development program. Companies are motivated to comply with BEE requirements by receiving tax breaks and benefits for their training efforts.
Why Choose a Learnership After Leaving School?
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to choose a learnership programme is that they are fully funded by a registered company and therefore don’t have any fee requirements to enrol. In addition to this, learners receive high-quality and nationally recognized qualifications that focus on industry-standard skills. This opens up more opportunities to apply for jobs in South Africa.
Who Qualifies for a learnership?
The main goal of a learnership is to decrease the stifling effects of youth unemployment on designated groups in South Africa. Therefore, students need to follow specific criteria in order to meet learnership requirements and obtain youth employment opportunities.
The first major necessity is that the student falls within a specific age group. The general age requirements for a learnership are between 18 and 35 years. However, this may vary depending on the training provider you are enrolling with. Another major factor is that the student needs to be of a designated group that was previously affected by the apartheid era. This includes individuals of black, coloured or Indian descent.
Furthermore, a learnership can be given to individuals that are already employed at a company or those that are unemployed. This can apply to both abled and disabled individuals. The major difference between employed and unemployed learnership students is the location to which they are expected to complete their learnership.
An employed learner will complete their theoretical component on the premises of the company they are working for. A facilitator from the training provider will meet the student on the premises and conduct classes during a schedule that works well for the company. An unemployed or disabled learner will attend classes with a facilitator at the training provider they are completing their learnership with. The schedule will be determined by the training provider. In most cases, the practical component of the learnership will be conducted on the premises of the company that is sponsoring the learnership.
The Learnership Criteria:
In order to make sure learnerships run smoothly and consistently the government of South Africa created the Skills Development Act. This act clearly states that learnerships should meet the following criteria:
- They must have a structured learning component that is focused on a specific industry
- A practical learning component that consists of gaining work experience at a company that aligns well with their learnership material
- The content of the learnership must relate to an occupation within a specific industry
- A legal agreement must be made that binds the employer, learner, and training provider
- A qualification that meets an NQF level must be given to the student when the learnership is completed
- Support must be given to the learner in the form of hands-on training, mentorship, and assessment
Learnership Obligations:
While there are specific requirements to be in place for a learnership to function, students must also abide by specific learnership obligations. Here’s what will be expected of you when you are enrolled in a learnership:
- If you are employed, you will need to be registered at an organization. If you are unemployed then you will need to be registered with an accredited training provider.
- You must be ready, willing, and available to participate in learning sessions and workplace practicals at the stipulated times.
- Similarly, you must be available to attend all induction programmes. These are set up to give learners valuable information about their learnership programme.
- A learnership constitutes a legal working contract, therefore it is important that you work diligently and adhere to all workplace requirements and regulations when completing your workplace practicals
- You are required to complete any logbooks or timesheets given to you during your learnership period
7 Advantages of learnerships:
As mentioned earlier, one of the major benefits of completing a learnership programme is that you will receive a guided education that guarantees an accredited national certificate or FETC and work experience for your CV. However, there are many other reasons why learnerships are a good fit for school leavers:
1. Gain hands-on experience
A learnership programme will give you the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experiences in an established working environment. This will help school leavers, like yourself, bridge the gap between the knowledge you’ve learned in school and the requirements within the job market.
2. Enhance your employment opportunities
By enrolling in a learnership programme you are making a commitment to better your skills, gain valuable work experience, and earn a qualification. This will set you up for future success as you will have all the resources to show that you have what it takes to take on a career within a specific industry.
3. Your basic expenses will be covered
A learnership is structured with you in mind. Therefore, the process is built on making sure you can attend your learnership classes and complete your qualification. A stipend, or monthly allowance, is given out to make sure you can cover your travel costs and lunch meals. The amount will depend on the company that sponsors you and will be covered for the duration of the learnership programme.
4. Mentorship and Guidance
Another big advantage of the practical component of your learnership is that you will get to gain knowledge from experienced professionals that will guide you in the right direction. Their advice and support can help you avoid common mistakes and mishaps that are found within the industry.
5. You will earn an accredited qualification
Learnerships will not only guarantee a qualification but this qualification will be fully accredited with a SETA. This certificate of recognition ensures that you are receiving a high-quality education that meets national standards. Therefore, you will have all the tools you need to gain an entry-level job in a career that you are passionate about.
6. Experience your chosen career path with an established company
Learnership programmes cover many different industries. This means that you can gain experience in an industry that you have an interest in and get a feel for what it would be like to work in it.
7. Make valuable connections
For the practical component of your learnership you will be expected to gain experience within a company. This will open the door to meeting and making connections with experienced and knowledgeable members within your chosen industry. If you make a good impression, the company may hire you or keep your information for future hires. This can be a great tool for later collaboration, forming business partnerships, or finding work.
How are learnerships funded?
There are various ways that a company might choose to fund a learnership. There are many government funding entities, tax deductions or rebates offered, or Public Private Partnerships on offer.
One common way that companies fund learnerships is through the different SETAs. Sector Education and Training Authorities, or SETAs for short, are responsible for making sure Skills Development initiatives are implemented successfully. SETAs collect Skills Development levies from companies to promote Skills Development, which includes the implementation of learnerships. Alternatively, many companies choose the path of self-funding for their learnership programmes.
How to find a learnership:
To get started on your learnership journey there are a few ways you can find the right learnership programme for you. This includes the following:
1. Applying on the website of a training provider
Accredited training providers are responsible for carrying out workplace learning programmes for learnership students. When they have a client interested in starting a learnership programme, the training provider will reach out to students that meet the requirements for the learnership programme. Therefore, having your name in the system can be helpful when the right opportunity arises. To apply for a learnership at Edge Training, apply here. We receive a lot of applications and will be in touch if we find the perfect fit.
2. Contact a SETA
There are currently 21 SETAs operating in South Africa. Each one focuses on a different sector and industry. For example, TETA focuses on logistics, MICT SETA focuses on technology, and Services SETA focuses on the world of work. By visiting one of their websites, you can be on the lookout for any learnership opportunities they may have on offer.
3. Google and social media
Many companies and training providers put out a call for individuals to apply for their learnership programmes. A simple Google search may bring up many potential opportunities. There are also many Facebook groups actively looking to recruit suitable students.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in enrol in a learnership you can do so with Edge Training. We are an accredited training provider with over 22 years of experience in Skills Development training and soft skills training. Therefore, we have had the privilege of watching many students walk through our doors, complete a learnership and leave with an accredited qualification. If you would like to enroll in a learnership with Edge Training please apply here. We receive many applications and will only reach out to you if we have a learnership opportunity that suits your application.