Question NW1427 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
24 June 2021 - NW1427
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)Whether his department has embarked on a learnership programme for the 2021-22 financial year; if not, will his department hold the learnership programme in abeyance until all existing trainees have been absorbed; if so, (a) what number of learners are enrolled and (b) what steps will be taken to ensure that these learners are absorbed into his department when they qualify, (2) whether the unsuccessful candidates who are not going to be absorbed will be advised personally; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the unsuccessful candidates will be removed from the persal system so that they can pursue alternative employment; if not, why not; if so, by what date will they be removed?
Reply:
(1) No, the Department of Correctional Services has not yet embarked on the 2021/22 Learnership Programme. The enrolment will be determined by the human resource needs and the availability of funds. The absorption of learners who have completed their learnership is not a determining factor for the enrolment of the next group of learners on the programme. The aim of the programme is to provide training and skills development opportunities to the youth preparing them for the labour market.
(1)(a) None
(1)(b) Not applicable
(2) No, the learnership programme is a 12 month development programme and not an employment contract, in the case of group 1 of 2019/20 the contract was extended as the programme was suspended for two months during the lockdown levels 5 and 4. The programme came to an end on 31 December 2020.
(3) Yes, their contract appointment on the PERSAL system is created in such a way that, when the contract end date is reached, the learner is automatically removed from the PERSAL system enabling them to pursue alternative employment.
END