About Learnerships

The current Skills Development legislation was enacted in order to implement structures and processes
to transform skills development in South Africa.

A critical look at how employers and training providers typically provided education, training and work
experience in the past indicates that education and training provision has not always been responsive to
the demands of the economy nor has it always linked theory and practice.

A Learnership is defined as a work-based route for learning and gaining qualifications. It includes both
structured work experience (practical) and structured institutional learning (theory).

In other words it includes both on-the-job and academic components. A Learnership is not the only way
to gain a full NQF qualification; but does offer a very specific approach.

Purpose of Learnerships

Learnerships offer one way in which education and training can become more responsive to the needs
of employers, learners and the social and economic needs of South Africa in general.
Some of the labour markets issues that Learnerships seek to address are:

• The decline in levels of employment in South Africa;
• The unequal distribution of income;
• Unequal access to education and training, and employment opportunities;
• The effects of race, gender and geographical location on advancement; and
• The skills shortage amongst the labour force.

Learnerships are thus viewed as a central mechanism for achieving transformation in the education and
training system in South Africa.

Learnership criteria

The criteria for a Learnership are set out in the Skills Development Act. These indicate that the
Learnership must:

• consist of a structured learning component;
• include practical work experience;
• be governed by an agreement between the learner, employer and education and training provider;
• lead to a qualification registered on the NQF; and
• relate to an occupation; and
• Include job rotation, on-going mentorship and assessment in order to fully support the learner..

What must I do to register for a Learnership?

Learners interested in registering on a Learnership can follow the following steps:

• Plan a career path;
• Identify the Learnership that supports the chosen career path;
• Find out as much information as possible about the Learnership;
• Enquire about the applicable criteria for entering the Learnership; and
• Find an employer willing to provide practical work experience.

What advantages will a Learner get from the Learnership Program?

It is clear that Learnerships offer many advantages to the learner, training provider and employer. In
summary, Learnerships are important because of the following reasons:

• The programme is outcomes-based;
• The learner interacts within the working environment;
• The learner interacts with clients and obtains an understanding of workplace dynamics;
• Assessment occurs at various stages and is based on the learner’s competence;
• The qualification is nationally recognised and is benchmarked against international standards.
• The opportunity to earn while you study
• Professional experience in a relevant programme and or career
• Obtain a recognised qualification
• The ability to combine theory and practice
• Easy access to the job market

What advantages will an Employer get from a Learnership Program?

Some of the following advantages could be derived from engaging in Learnership programmes1:

• Well and appropriately skilled employment pool (existing employers and new entrants);
• Turnover increase because of productive learners at lower than normal costs;
• Financial benefits to employers who sign up learners unto a learnership (learnership grants from relevant SETAs)
• Get tax Rebates
• Claim back 70% of the amount spend on training from relevant SETAs (SDL paying members)
• Productivity increase because of higher skilled workers;
• Ensured recruitment success, as the employer will be able to retain performing new entrants;
• Creative and innovative workforce, because of the attainment of the compulsory critical skills and attitudes required by every qualification;
• An increase in market share because of a skilled and competitive workforce;
• A satisfied workforce and subsequent labour peace; and
• A highly motivated workforce, because of higher levels of participation in the success of the company.

Register learners on a Learnership

For any learnership to be a success you need proper administration from project initiation to finish.
Most companies find it difficult effective implementing learnerships or do not know how they are run
and managed. To do away with all these huddles and learnership management problems from training
managers, human resources managers and Skills Development Facilitators we have developed the best
practice methodology to help companies implement learnerships successfully.

What support does Spectrium give companies?

Spectrium provide companies in South Africa who are involved in learnerships or want to implement
learnerships for the first time in their organization with the following services:

Conduct needs analysis to ensure that learnerships meet the organization’s human resources
strategy

• Recruitment of learners on behalf of clients for learnership purposes
• Liaise with the relevant SETAs for learner registration
• Compile Workplace Skills Plans and submit them to SETA on clients behalf
• Provide training support and advise to company training committee
• Find relevant training providers to render the services for the client if Spectrium is accredited for the
• particular learnership
• Provide project coordination and administration
• Project report writing
• Learner certification

We assist organisations with learnership project management and implementation in the following qualifications:

To implement learnerships in your organization please contact us on +27113391746 or E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it