Evaluation of the Monyetla Work Readiness ... - Business Trust

While foreign companies would expect to finance the training of entry-level employees in companyspecificbusiness processes, systems, policies, products/services and corporate culture, for example,they would expect employees to possess the basic skills to work in BPO&O. But evidence showsthat learners, especially those Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDIs) leaving secondary schooland even tertiary education institutions are not adequately equipped with life- and other skills. Thiscan be attributed to the legacy of the Apartheid-era schooling system. Although the government isworking to normalise the situation, aiming to implement a new curriculum by 2009/10 to producelearners with requisite life and workplace skills, the Monyetla programme is designed to close theskills gap over the next four years to enable South Africa to respond to short term-opportunitiesoffered in this sector.2.2.3 Meeting the Challenges of the Previously Disadvantaged andthe DisabledThe BPO&O industry is particularly well-suited to developing employment opportunities for thepreviously disadvantaged and the disabled. But, these learners face many challenges in the SouthAfrican workplace. Experience gleaned from other work readiness programmes and researchconducted by the University of Johannesburg and Deloitte on skills development programmesdeveloped for the financial services sector and the wholesale and retail sector, has identified anumber of challenges in respect of school-leavers and trainees adapting to the workplaceenvironment. These are particularly serious in the knowledge/ICT/services industries, including theBPO&O sector and include the following:• Grooming (particularly appropriate attire), behaviour and communication skills.• Lack of a driver’s licence.• Lack of equipment/tools necessary for career advancement, such as access to a car or tointernet/e-mail.• Poor financial management skills, resulting in the accumulation of debt soon afteremployment.• Poor spoken and written English. Training in this regard is crucial because an inability tocommunicate effectively and clearly in English can retard a person’s career and contribute tolower self-esteem.Research by BPO&O Sector Support Programme prioritises skills development for the South AfricanBPO&O sector as follows:• Developing a skills pipeline – from entry level to senior management level;• Creating awareness at secondary school level of career opportunities in the sector;• Affording more employment opportunities for the disabled;• Overcoming institutional factors that limit the supply of skills in the sector;• Acknowledging that a bridging programme (or work preparedness/readiness skillsprogramme) can significantly contribute towards improving learner employability and wouldultimately:o Equip learners, particularly those previously disadvantaged or disabled , with appropriatelife and technical skills to enhance success in the business environment and to bridge thegap between school and the modern world of work; ando Enhance opportunities for further learning and ultimately life-long learning.2.2.4 Meeting the Needs of the UnemployedBPO&O has been selected as a priority sector because of its ability to contribute to the broadobjectives of growth, development and transformation enabling up to 100,000 unemployed peoplebecome active in the modern economy.14