Thousands of unemployed youth will benefit from a newly-launched government training scheme, communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at the official launch of the scheme, known as e-Cadre, in Rustenburg in North-West. The programme was a multi-pronged approach offering information and communications technology (ICT) skills training and life orientation to young people, said Nyanda.
About 350 IT graduates have been recruited since the programme was identified as a flagship of the communications department in 2007. “They were recruited to provide technical support in respective service deployment areas where they assist communities to access government services through the use of ICTs. Today’s launch addresses the creation of skilled personnel to respond to human resources needs our thriving economy requires, especially in the ICT sector,” said Nyanda.
The programme, conducted in partnership with the National Youth Service and 15 Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, has three phases — formal training, service deployment and an exit strategy.
The first phase of the programme was concluded last year with the training of 765 young matriculants in the International Computers Drivers Licence through the 15 FET colleges. “The programme provides young people, between the ages of 18 and 30, with an opportunity to contribute towards civic responsibility and reconstruction while acquiring skills to enhance their entrepreneurial capacity,” Nyanda said, adding that his department had already spent about R8m since the programme was introduced.
This figure covered the tuition and assessment fees for the training, life orientation module, stipend and travelling and accommodation fees. “We believe that ICTs can create greater access to opportunities, redress inequalities, improve the quality of teaching and learning and provide learners with personalised learning experiences.”
The process of recruiting participants takes into consideration gender and disability. Young people from both rural and urban areas are welcome. — Sapa
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