Vusani asks: I am currently looking for learnership in civil engineering if there is an opportunity in your company. I was left with N6 Quantity surveying, i wrote it and it came back with a pass, which leave me with no pending subject. I am looking forward to hear from you.

• Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA): http://www.ceta.org.za  
• Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA): http://www.mqa.org.za/
• Local Government (LGSETA): http://www.lgseta.co.za 
• Public Service Sector (PSETA): http://www.dpsa.gov.za  
• Transport (TETA): http://www.teta.org.za   

Martin Asks: As Unisa offers its studies part time I want to study IT with Unisa next year (2010) in second semester so I want you to search for a learnership for me in IT form any company in Pretoria and Johannesbury.

• In order to assist you explore who provides learnerships and how to go about applying for them it is suggested you consult the guide “A learnership guide for unemployed people” which is available on the Department of Labour website at the following location http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/
• Learnerships and apprenticeships are also advertised in newspapers from time-to-time by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) or their member organizations. A list of SETAs and the learnerships they have registered may be found on the following Department of Labour web page: http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/registered-learnerships-by-setas.
• Since your interest lies in IT we suggest you also contact the Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (ISETT:  http://www.isett.org.za/default.asp) for more information on how to access Learnerships in the IT field. Also consult their learnership web page:  http://www.isett.org.za/incASP/frame.asp?theSection=/learnerships/default.asp&thepage=default.htm

We hope this information helps you to move closer to finding a suitable learnership. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Kind regards from The Career Planet Team

Dear Ria Thank you for your enquiry. Well done on exploring study options. It is never too late to study further. We suggest you consult the following sources for more information on how to apply for a learnership:

For a general overview of learnerships consult the Department of Labour website http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/ and access the following guides:

• A learnership guide for unemployed people
• Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)
• Registered learnerships by SETA.

Once you know which learnerships you are interested in we suggest you contact the SETAs which monitor these learnerships to find out about the application process and which organizations offer them.

We suggest you contact at least the Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and Other Financial Services SETA (http://www.fasset.org.za/default.asp) for more information on how to access learnerships in the accounting field. You could also ask this SETA about Recognition of Prior Learning to see if the type of experience you have qualifies you to apply for this process.

Learnerships are also advertised in newspapers from time-to-time by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) or their member organizations.

If you are employed you could approach your company to see if they have any learnerships they could enrol you for through their SETA.

We also suggest you consider completing studies on a part time basis through your local FET College for example NCV Finance, Economics and Accounting. They may even have learnerships. When you contact them enquire if they have any financial assistance or bursary programs you could apply for (http://www.westcol.co.za/).

You mentioned that you would ultimately like to become a Chartered Accountant. If you would like to do this you will need to complete a BCom (3 years full time) accounting degree followed by  a post graduate CTA or equivalent qualification (1 year) and then sign up for 3 years articles with a recognised accounting firm (a learnership) after which you will write two qualifying examinations. Once this process has been successfully completed you may apply for registration as a chartered accountant. Please refer to the website for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants http://www.saica.co.za/ for more information about the different routes you could follow to become a chartered accountant.

If you have the appropriate academic entry requirements, explore studying a BCom through UNISA. This university allows you to study by post. Their contact details are as follows:
UNISA CONTACT CENTRE (UCC)
Tel: 0861 670 411 (Nationally)
Fax: 012 429 4150
e-mail: econ@unisa.ac.za

We hope this information will help you to access a learnership or a study program that will lead you towards becoming a qualified bookkeeper as the first step towards your ultimate goal. 

Best wishes from The Career Planet Team

Mr Ndlovu Asks:
Good day! Please help, I am very much interest on acquiring a learnership. I did: Mercantile law, Economics, Accounting, Business Economics, Afrikaans, English and Zulu. I would really like to improve myself.

Dear Mr Ndlovu Organizations seeking to recruit people for learnerships often make use of the Department of Labour’s database, it is therefore suggested that unemployed people over the age of 16 years and under the age of 35 years should register as “work-seekers” at the nearest office of the Department of Labour. For a general overview of learnerships consult the Department of Labour website http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/ and access the following guides:
• A learnership guide for unemployed people
• Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)
• Registered learnerships by SETA

We suggest you also contact the following SETAs to find out what learnerships or apprenticeships they have registered, and which companies are offering learnerships or apprenticeship opportunities:

• Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority
• Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority
• Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority

Learnerships are also advertised in newspapers from time-to-time by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), their member organizations or public education institutions and registered training providers.

Best wishes from The Career Planet Team 

Nicco Asks: My friends completed their Technical Certificates in Civil Engineering and Millwright and are looking for learnerships or apprenticeships. They  are looking  for  a opportunity  in  Mpumalanga and  Limpopo  in  the  mining  sector.

Dear Nicco Thank you for your question regarding learnerships in the mining industry for your friends.

Organizations seeking to recruit people for internships, learnerships and apprenticeships often make use of the Department of Labour’s database, it is therefore suggested that unemployed young people over the age of 16 years and under the age of 35 years should register as “work-seekers” at the nearest office of the Department of Labour (also see the “A learnership guide for unemployed people” (http://www.labour.gov.za/documents/useful-documents/skills-development/).

We also suggest you contact the Institute for the National Development of Learnerships Employment Skills and Labour Assessments: Tel: (011) 206 1000; Postal Address:  Private Bag X5, Olifantsfontein, 1665 to confirm what your friends need to do to become a qualified artisans and how to access internships, learnerships and apprenticeships in the mining industry.

You can also contact the following Skills Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to find out what learnerships or apprenticeships they have registered, and which companies are offering learnerships or apprenticeship opportunities:

• Energy (ESETA): http://www.eseta.org.za
• Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA): http://www.mqa.org.za/
• Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Sciences (MERSETA): http://www.merseta.org.za/
• Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA): http://www.ceta.org.za/

Internships, learnerships and apprenticeships are also advertised in newspapers from time-to-time by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), their member organizations or public education institutions and registered training providers.

You can also consult your local College for Further Education and Training (student support) to find out if they know of any companies offering learnerships, internships or apprenticeships.
 
We hope this information will help your friends on their way to becoming qualified artisans.

Best wishes from The Career Planet Team