Navigating the transition from education to the workplace can be daunting. In South Africa, learnerships serve as a vital bridge, combining theoretical knowledge with practical, “on-the-job” experience.
Whether you are a job seeker looking to boost your employability or an employer aiming to upskill your workforce, understanding how these programs function is essential.
What Exactly is a Learnership?
A learnership is a work-based learning programme that leads to a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Unlike a traditional degree that might be purely academic, learnerships are directly tied to specific occupations or fields, such as bookkeeping, office administration, or financial management.+2
The Core Goals of Learnerships:
- Reducing Unemployment: Creating a pathway for South Africans to enter the workforce with proven skills.
- Equal Access: Addressing historical imbalances in education and training related to race, gender, and geography.
- Closing the Skills Gap: Tackling the specific skills shortages currently facing the South African economy.
Who Qualifies and What Are the Requirements?
Learnerships are remarkably inclusive. They are designed for:
- School leavers and college graduates.
- Individuals studying part-time.
- Unemployed South Africans, provided an employer is available to provide the necessary work experience.
The Two Must-Sign Legal Documents
If you are accepted into a program, you will sign two critical documents:
- Learnership Agreement: A three-way contract between the learner, the employer, and the education provider outlining everyone’s rights and responsibilities.
- Employment Contract: A contract with the employer that remains valid for the duration of the learnership.
Roles and Responsibilities: Who Does What?
A successful learnership relies on a partnership between several key players.
1. The Learner
- Must work for the employer for the duration of the agreement.
- Participates in all theory instruction and structured work experience.
- Registers with both a skills development provider and the ICB for assessments.
- Maintains a Portfolio of Evidence to prove practical competence.
2. The Employer
- Provides the actual workplace where learning takes place.
- Appoints a mentor to support and guide the learner.
- Ensures the learner is released for necessary training and assessments.
- Complies with all applicable labour legislation.
3. The Skills Development Provider
- Provides the theoretical tuition.
- Must be accredited by the ICB and registered with the Department of Higher Education.
4. The ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) & SETAs
- SETAs register the learnership agreements and promote programs across sectors.
- The ICB manages the quality of the qualifications, accredits providers, and conducts national theory and workplace assessments.
Important: How to Apply
It is a common misconception that the ICB provides learnerships directly to learners. The ICB does not offer learnerships directly.
Employers initiate and fund these programs. If you are a prospective learner, you must find an employer who is recruiting candidates for an ICB-accredited learnership.
Pro Tip: If you are currently unemployed, look for companies in the finance or administration sectors that are advertising learnership opportunities or check with Fasset (the Finance and Accounting SETA) for registered programs.
