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Financial & Accounting Training

Post-matric programme gives hope to unemployed

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:45

Annually, labour experts estimate that at least 400 000 matriculants join the lines of unemployed in the country. These matriculants will join South Africa’s millions of unemployed partly because schools do not equip them with the skills to cope in the world of work and partly because school leavers with matric and those who leave before completing matric face similar chances of getting employment.

Employers do not seem to take cognisance of the fact that matriculants have proved themselves to be better motivated than those who did not finish school. They are not differentiating between those with a matric qualification and those with less, until they reach 25 years of age or more. The HSRC research shows that the economy favours older workers where the number of jobs created is not sufficient to employ younger labour market entrants.

For many years Fasset has successfully developed skills in the professional financial arena, and offered various work readiness programmes over the past few years. The Ithemba Training Programme managed by S&T School of Accounting stretches the scope of these projects to an as yet un-serviced group sector. Fasset through Ithemba will not only be offering work readiness training, but will also be building vocational skills in the format of foundational financial skills to matriculants. This programme will increase the number of entrants into the financial sector and since youth unemployment is more crucial and serious among black matriculants, the programme will focus on PDI learners.

Ithemba – which means have faith or confidence - will offer unemployed matriculants hope through the training on this extraordinary programme. 120 learners, 20 of which will have disabilities, with an aptitude for accounting will be equipped with the skills needed to enter careers within accounting or further their studies.

The Ithemba Training Programme is aimed at learners that have not gained access to university, and are unable to secure work. This does not necessarily mean that they do not have the ability to be a productive employee. An unfortunate reality is that the schooling system, despite best intentions, has failed some of these learners and has not offered them the opportunity to develop their abilities.

With this training programme essential skills that are required in the workplace as well as the skills required in order to become employed will be offered. S&T makes use of a combination of learning modules that are based on a certificate qualification, unit standards and other outcomes-based programmes as registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Learners will be offered the opportunity to embark on a seven month programme where they will receive the following skills:

Learners will be mentored throughout the training through a structured learner support programme.

By ensuring that matriculants have an additional skill set to present to employers, the likelihood of finding employment greatly increases. The overall objective of the Ithemba Training Programme is to benefit both society and the economy by contributing to the increase in employment of unemployed matriculants.