An assessment system that is appropriate and serves the objectives of the new learnership system has to be put into place. This assessment system should serve to promote quality into a learning and training as well as to give awards for achieved competencies.
It is recommended that a new system be based on the following guidelines:
- In the assessment process, language requirement must encourage the development and use of languages previously discriminated against.
- The procedures of the criteria for assessing learner performance should be laid before the assessment takes place.
- Assessment in a learnership must, as far as possible, be integrative and not only emphasis practical skills.
- A wide range of evidence should be promoted in an assessment.
- Portfolio-based assessment should be privileged for moderation as this form of assessment makes auditing less costly and the evidence can travel.
- The occurrence of external or final test assessment may not be the norm for all kinds of learnerships.
- Generally, "high-risk" learning should be subjected to this final assessment.
- The quality assurance procedures should be developed in consultation of all relevant parties to establish fairness, efficiency and effectiveness.
- The determination of learning progress should take place primarily where the learning is taking place.
- The assessor should be registered as competent with an education and training quality assuror/sector education and training organisation.
- The assessor may be the learning facilitator or instructor.
- Available qualified and competent assessors are as important as competent trainers.
The Learnership programme was developed in South Africa as a modern way to advance apprenticeships to meet the modern demands of the workplace. Learnerships also manage to formalise the learning and workplace experience - which is usually sadly lacking in internships offered by companies.
Another significant benefit of Learnerships over internships is that Learnerships come with a formal pay structure where learners will be paid a monthly stipend, or payment, for the time they are on the Learnership. Also, internships do not have a learning component, while Learnerships are all linked directly to a formal qualification.
