Question NW3390 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
05 December 2018 - NW3390
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)According to the database of the records of learners of the SA Qualifications Authority, what number of learners achieved full qualifications on Level 4 as a result of the learnership programme(s) in the (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017 academic years; (2) whether her department is content with the number of learners who are improving their qualifications through learnership contracts; if not, what (a) changes or initiatives will her department be initiating to improve the opportunities for learners to receive formal, work-place based training and (b) would be the targeted number of learners who will undergo training in future; if so, why?
Reply:
- The number of achievements against the qualifications at NQF Level 4 in learnerships is as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Achievements |
|
2015 |
5 648 |
|
2016 |
3 909 |
|
2017 |
2 573 |
2. Given the increasing number of young people who are not in employment, education or training, the Department has put measures in place to improve the quality and number of those undertaking workplace-based training.
a) The Department is embarking on various initiatives to improve the opportunities for learners to receive formal, workplace-based training, such as the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) Workplace-Based Learning Programme Agreement Regulations, which was published on 16 November 2018 and reviewing the current SETA landscape with a view to better position SETAs to appropriately respond to the needs of their respective sectors. This, amongst others, is intended to increase learner uptake in workplace-based training. The establishment of the Centres of Specialisation is another initiative to make a meaningful contribution in this regard.
b) In terms of the 2014 - 2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework, the Department has targeted 140 000 workplace-based learning opportunities annually by 31 March 2019.