Workplace training for graduates is key to skills plan - Mlambo-Ngcuka
June 27, 2007
By Sibongile Khumalo
Johannesburg - Graduate learnerships and workplace training are vital initiatives to accelerate the government's joint initiative on priority skills acquisition (Jipsa), according to deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The deputy president, who chairs the Jipsa task team, hailed the initiatives at the graduation ceremony for the first intake of KPMG's growth acceleration programme (GAP) for graduates.
The 12-month programme focused on giving in-house training to 20 female commerce graduates working in various KPMG divisions.
KPMG executive director Tshidi Mokgabudi said that despite being qualified, trainees were not ready for work and most lacked skills such as communication, listening ability and assertiveness.
"University degrees sometimes do not provide skills required by the workplace. Programmes such as GAP are important for companies to build the kind of skills and quality they require. It's a valuable investment for the company," said Mokgabudi.
A study conducted for Jipsa by the development policy research unit at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has revealed that there were 200 000 unemployed graduates in the country. Eighty-five percent of these were black, while white graduates made up only 5 percent.
UCT development policy director Harron Bhorat attributed the high level of unemployment among graduates to studying in fields that were not relevant to employers' requirements.
"A large number of these graduates were in possession of qualifications that are not in demand with many employers," said Bhorat. "There is also a certain level of discrimination against graduates from historically black institutions".
Ibrahim Steyn, the research co-ordinator for the Nedlac negotiating forum, questioned the effectiveness of graduate training programmes, saying they had not been proved as effective ways to address the skills shortage and unemployment.
"There is a need for a complete overhaul of the country's employment strategy to ensure that employment is distributed across all sectors. Even employment equity is not geared towards addressing the skills shortage," Steyn said.
Since its inception in 2006, Jipsa has trained 15 000 graduates through various sectors.
Masabatha Mthwecu, the programme director of Skills Acquisition and Placement, a Jipsa implementation arm, said government-initiated graduate training programmes were poised for success. "We are in talks with various private companies that are keen on taking up a number of graduates on mentorship and training programmes. We are aiming to train 20 000 graduates by the end of next year."
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