South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) is utilising an English Literacy and Numeracy programme to ensure the transformation and upliftment of its blue collar workforce.

Initiated in 2003, with a small project of 15 learners at the Pelchem division, the programme now includes over 200 learners from other divisions.

“NECSA is committed to developing its employees’ literacy competencies so that they can add value to own personal development and work performance,” said Joseph Kgatitsoe, NECSA Learning and People Development.

Targeted at blue collar employees who do not speak English as a mother tongue, the ABET training has been positively received by the NECSA workforce.

At the most recent graduation in April 2008, an additional fifty nine learners received their certificates for different National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels.

Relating his reasons for participating in the programme, a learner said: “When I was told there’s an English course (ABET) that was being offered I decided to take part in the programme, although I always thought my English was good; when I reached Level 4 English Communication it proved to me that I still had a lot to learn.

We learned proper usage of Nouns, Tenses, Puns and Verbs; and as a person who loves to write; the course came in handy.

After doing Level 4 English Communication; I was able to write my letters, reviews, e-mails and memo’s with more confidence and vigour.

I would really recommend English and Communication to my fellow colleagues, doing Level 4 English and Communication really was an eye-opener for me.”

In the long-term all identified employees will receive this training, to enable progression to the next level namely learnerships in the FET training band.

The computer assisted training is provided in partnership with training provider Media Works, who were appointed by NECSA to provide learning materials and facilitation support for the programme.

With the different training sites consisting of various business units scattered across the Pelindaba koppies, NECSA needed to identify a training provider that could accommodate the company’s specific training needs.

The flexible and versatile application of the methodology followed by Media Works; use of technology in computer assisted training; and the minimal impact on production time enabled Media Works to provide effective training.

To date the programme has succeeded in certifying an average of 96 learners per annum since 2005.

With an average of 96 learners being certified annually since 2005 there is a long-term plan in place to ensure a larger number of employees receive training. “NECSA plans to train up to 1 000 learners of the 1 400 staff compliment in the next few years.

What has been surprising is the large number of Afrikaans speaking employees participating on the programme,” explains Media Works’ Elizabeth Rautenbach.

With an overall goal to get all employees competent at NQF Level 1, long-term career paths have been developed to encourage sustained learning and skills development.