Johannesburg, 05 May 2004
Software Futures has been recognised as a registered training provider that structures learning and training programmes identified as necessary for the betterment of and upliftment of skills in the Information Systems Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies (ISETT) sector.
This ensures standardisation and quality-assured skills development involving formal assessment of the learner following the training intervention, to ensure value of the training for learners.
Trevor van Rensburg, Best Practices Business Unit Manager, comments: "We are extremely proud to be the first short-course, software development best practices training provider to be ISETT SETA approved, and will now work actively with the government to help ensure that the necessary unit standards are defined. Our fully-equipped training rooms offer more than 20 instructor-led courses which cover the full software development lifecycle, from best practices education, to product training on IBM Rational tools. The full lifecycle curriculum of courses is relevant, practical and up to date with the latest industry best practices."
Skills development is about enabling and empowering individuals through the acquisition of competencies that are in demand. Software Futures recognises that employees should be sent on software development best practices training when specific skills gaps have been identified in an employee's current position by means of formal, regular performance appraisals and continuous 'on the job' monitoring. This ensures that the employee is sent on the appropriate training intervention to meet these skills gaps.
The intention of the Skills Development Levies Act of 1988 was to stimulate skills development by enabling employers to reclaim expenditure on training. Companies that are registered with SARS or have an annual payroll of over R250 000 have to register with the Skills Development Levies Act. These companies pay 1% of their payroll towards the levy, and can claim grants back for the submission of an annual training report, and workplace skills plan. In addition, learnerships and accreditation as a training provider will result in larger grants being reimbursed.
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) recognises skills acquired in the workplace, enabling employees to enhance their prospects, and employers to recognise skills levels.
It is very probable that in the not too distant future, refunds on skills levies paid will only be given to organisations using accredited training providers. This will affect the amount of their levy refunds.
Analysts predict that a 4% increase in the growth rate would result in a massive shortage of skilled employees. This is a serious obstacle to the competitiveness of industry in SA. Employers and employees need to be persuaded that training today is an investment for the future.
The skills development strategy seeks to address these challenges, and the Skills Development Act was initiated to benefit both the employer and employee, and aims to expand the knowledge and competencies of the labour force. Software Futures' role as a registered training provider is to grasp and understand the opportunities outlined in the Act, and to structure learning and training programmes that have been identified as necessary for the betterment of and upliftment of skills in the sector and for the country as a whole.
Van Rensburg adds: "It is high time that our industry started getting a standards control body equivalent to 'the Bar' for lawyers and the medical and dental council for doctors, etc. Software Futures aims to become that governing body for software developer quality control in this country."
SAQA states: "Assessment in education and training is about systematically collecting evidence of the learner's work, so that decisions can be made as to whether a learner is competent or not yet competent. An assessment is a structured process for gathering evidence and making judgements about an individual's performance in relation to national standards and qualifications."
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