Skills Development has become an “industry” and in a lot of ways, that’s a good thing, as more and more youth are being given the opportunity to receive a quality education and thus transition from a learner to a leader. Many need to understand that Skills Development is supposed to be approached with patience because really developing a skill comes over time. At NESTAB, our end goal and main focus lie in furthering learner’s abilities. We want to give them a solid foundation and equip them for their future.
The saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” and that applies more now than ever before. Skills Development is amongst the most important parts of sustainable transformation in South Africa because by giving these youths the opportunity to learn and earn an accredited qualification, we give them more than just a skill…we give them the ability to empower themselves and begin their journey towards financial freedom.
South African has placed a large amount of attention on decreasing youth unemployment and developing important skills in the country, which is where accredited learning institutions specialising in Training and Learnership initiatives such as NESTAB come in. The Skills Development Act provides businesses with a solid framework to implement learning strategies towards skills development that will improve the South African workforce’s skills, develop their education and assist in building their foundation for their future.
Skills Development has become a priority for businesses all over South Africa that wish to attain or retain an acceptable B-BBEE level and meet the requirements of the Skills Development Act. Through Skills Development initiatives, businesses can make a major contribution to the country’s employment needs, which will aid in the growing unemployment rate affecting our Nation. These businesses also benefit as they are eligible for a TAX rebate, referred to in Section 12H of the Income Tax Act of R80’000 per abled learner and R120’000 per disabled bodied learner. So along with a TAX rebate, businesses are able to contribute positively to the economy of South African and to the lives of millions suffering from poverty.
The first stage in transforming Skills Development in South Africa is enhancing the collective understanding that learning happens consistently, throughout the course of a lifetime. Effective learning programmes, therefore, require perseverance and continuous adaptation.