7 April 2004

Telkom has donated over R10-million towards learnership programmes to contribute to the development of information, communication and technology skills in the country.

Launched by Telkom CEO Sizwe Nxasana in Pretoria on Tuesday, the two programmes include learnerships in call centres and project management, and combine theoretical learning with structured workplace experience.

Telkom has partnered in the programmes with the Department of Labour and the Information Systems, Electronics, and Telecommunication Technologies Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (Isett Seta) in this regard.

Nxasana said that through these programmes, Telkom aimed to build up a pool of suitably skilled people to support the growth and sustainability of the industry.

"These initiatives will assist us in creating jobs for the unemployed through education and training for people identified by the department of labour, former employees who were working in business areas that were declining, as well as unemployed science and engineering graduates," Nxasana said.

Receiving the donation, Isett Seta CEO Oupa Mopaki said learnerships were structured learning programmes from which learners would emerge with nationally recognised qualifications.

"I am convinced that most Isett Seta learners will be quickly and eagerly absorbed by employers, since the skills being acquired are in high demand and in short supply in the economy across the board", he said.

Source: BuaNews