By Lebofsa Masha
HUNDREDS of learners in Johannesburg are set to take part in a national skills-development programme to be launched officially in Braamfontein on 22 June.
About 1 500 people around the country will take part in courses to develop secretarial, administration, sales and marketing skills, says Jenny Lamont, the implementation manager for Learning Point Academy.
The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) has contracted Learning Point Academy to run the training as part of a government initiative. Learning Point Academy has centres in Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The chief executive of the Services Seta, Ivor Blumenthal, will officially launch the initiative on 22 June. His keynote address, from Braamfontein, will be broadcast to all the other centres.
Courses have already started in some of the centres: at the Johannesburg branch of the academy, for example, 250 people have already started their studies.
"Most of our learners are in their early 20s to mid-30s and all of them live in greater Johannesburg," Lamont says.
Most of the students have been disadvantaged in the past. Those who want to participate must have a matric or a post-matric certificate - but no degree - and must be unemployed and South African.
Anyone interested in the courses can apply at one of the Learning Point Academy centres. Assessments at the career centres will ensure participants start at the correct level.
Students will be able to choose from 14 courses.
According to Lamont, the secretarial and administration option is the most popular. In Johannesburg 100 students have chosen those fields, 25 are studying sales and marketing, and 20 are learning about payroll administration.
Venture creation, another popular course, deals with starting small businesses.
Students are also placed at companies to gain practical experience in their chosen fields.
Lamont says 55 companies in Johannesburg - including Ad Corps Accountability, Nations Trust, Prime Serve, Prestige, Transman and Independent Newspapers - have agreed to take on students.
Some students have started their courses already but there will be another intake of 100 in July, says Lamont.
"Each learner will receive training at the Johannesburg academy in Braamfontein and will then be placed and supported in a workplace for further learning.
"All this helps greatly to skill our youth and prepare them for employment," she says.
For more information contact the Learning Point Academy on 011 461 0600.
There is one Learning Point in Johannesburg:
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