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Setas and the NQF had advantages While the Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (Setas) have attracted much negative publicity in recent weeks for being perceived to have been wasteful and not having lived up to expectations in terms of mitigating South Africa’s endemic skills shortage, they have also delivered some results, according to the chief executive officer of the Seta for the financial services sector.
“Without Setas and without the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), it would not have been possible to provide so many young South Africans, including the unemployed youth, with pathways to employability, prospects of decent work and economic prosperity,” says Fasset's Cheryl James.
She points out that over the past four years, more than 350 000 employed learners have entered learning programmes, more than 230 000 learners have completed learning programmes, more than 200 000 unemployed learners have entered learning programmes, and around 120 000 unemployed learners have completed those learning programmes.
In addition, Setas have collectively registered more than 1 000 learnerships and qualifications on the old NQF from Level 1 up to Level 7. They have also established 970 Centres of Excellence.
Responding to criticism that Setas only focus on entry-level qualifications, James says this is patently untrue: “The NQF has created a learning pathway from where individuals are currently, to where they might be in the future. In the accounting profession, for example, the NQF provides an opportunity for young people aged 16 years or older, who are literate and numerate, to gain entry into the sector through the NQF Level 5 Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification, offered in partnership with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA).
"Once candidates have completed this qualification, they are then able to complete ACCA’s NQF Level 7 Professional Qualification, enabling them to become fully fledged accounting professionals.”
She says an aspect that is often overlooked, is the important role that Setas continue to play in assisting their stakeholders to transform the demographic profile of workplaces in South Africa. “In line with NSDS targets, 80% of people entering learnerships and Seta-funded skills development projects are black, 50% are women and 4% are people with disabilities,” James explains.
While numbers play an important role in assessing Seta performance, they do not tell the full story. “One should never lose sight of the fact that the numbers represent real individuals whose lives have been changed for the better through learnerships and skills upliftment initiatives,” James observes.
Ludwe Mhlati is a case in point. Previously an unemployed accounting graduate, after completing the Fasset-funded Bonani 3 Work Readiness Programme, he was offered a position by Mazars Moores Rowlands in Cape Town as a trainee accountant. He has never looked back.
Mhlati was recognised as the firm’s Most Productive Employee in the months of July and August. “This is an outstanding achievement, especially if you consider how big Mazars Moores Rowland really is,” Mhlati observes.
What makes this feat even more remarkable, is the fact that he has only been working in the 'corporate world' for the past three months.
Mhlati says, “life is just great”. “I am having a wonderful time in the corporate world. I feel that life has opened itself up to me, with new opportunities and greater prospects ahead,” he informs.
He urges everyone who has been “blessed” with an opportunity to be a part of the Fasset and Guarantee Trust Work-Readiness Programme to take everything that they learn very seriously because this will help them realise their goals.
“I am not joking. Soon you will see the abbreviation CA next to my name,” Mhlati said.
