No proof of skills shortage

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 30 May 2007

The Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (ISETT SETA) has no proof there is a skills shortage, it says.

Speaking at the Black IT Forum conference in Sandton yesterday, Oupa Mopaki, CEO of the ISETT SETA, said the government institution attempted to conduct research to determine the extent of the skills shortage and what areas had been affected.

"We compiled a simple questionnaire last year and sent it to 45 top ICT companies, asking them to indicate areas of skills shortage. We received two responses," he says.

Mopaki says the lack of industry feedback has led him to believe there is no skills shortage. "When called to talk to that item, I say no, we don't have a shortage."

ISETT SETA says it has performed well in the past year, exceeding many of its targets.

Mopaki says ISETT SETA assisted 2 459 learners to gain work experience, exceeding its set target of 2 000 learners.

It also trained 537 skills development facilitators (the target was 435), provided 112 large firms with workplace skills plans (the target was 89) and supported 1 586 small levy-paying firms in their skill plans (the target was 951).

Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka and communications director-general Lyndall Shope-Mafole commended the ISETT SETA on its performance.

"The ISETT SETA is among the best-performing, if not the best-performing SETA in the country," Mlambo-Ncguka said.