NQF Support Link

Learnership

Overview

A learnership(LS) is a form of work-based or ‘on-the-job’ training which results in an
NQF-registeredqualification. Learners on the programme will therefore spend some time learning and practising skills in the workplace, and some time learning knowledge or theory, usually in a class-room based situation through an institution or a provider. Learnerships are about occupations, and can be offered to both employed and unemployed learners.

Learnerships are linked to the Skills Development Strategy, and are seen as an important way of addressing the skills shortages in South Africa. A learnership must be registered with the Department of Labour.

Because a learnership must lead to a qualification registered on the NQF, its design must meet the criteria for qualifications set out by SAQA. This will include requirements for the curriculum and its assessment. Most learnerships happen in a particular occupational sector (although some cut across different sectors), and will therefore fall under a particular SETA which will put in place its own requirements. The new Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) will also develop requirements for workplace learning, assessment and awards. A learnership programme generally lasts between 12 and 18 months. Delivery of a programme is based on a Learnership Agreement, which is a contract between a learner, an employer, and a training provider for a specified period. Without a host employer and a workplace context to provide the work exposure and practical training, there is no learnership. There is no obligation on the employer to employ the learner on termination of the agreement.

Learnerships are funded mainly from SETA grants to employers, and are linked to tax incentives for employers. Companies can recover a portion of their contribution to the Skills Development Levy through running learnerships. Learnerships generally include an allowance for learners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Definitions and features
1. What makes a learnership different to any other training programme? click here
2. What is the difference between a skills programme and a learnership? click here
3. What is the difference between an apprenticeship and a learnership? click here
Regulatory context
4. What are Sector Skills Plans (SSPs)? click here
5. What are Workplace Skills Plans (WSPs)? click here
6. How is a learnership registered? click here

Finance
7. How are learnerships, skills programmes and apprenticeships funded? click here
8. What happens to the money from the skills levy? click here
9. What is the learner’s allowance for Section 18(2) learners? click here
10. What incentives are there to employers for implementing learnerships? click here
Parties involved
11. Who is involved in learnerships (types of learners, providers, workplaces, and
click here
12. What are the rights and duties of the three main parties involved in
learnerships? click here
13. How will learners benefit from learnerships? click here
14. How will institutions of learning benefit from learnerships? click here
15. How will employers benefit from learnerships? click here
Implementation
16. How do providers or employers get involved in learnerships?click here
17. How do learners get involved in learnerships? click here
18. What support do learners and employers receive during a learnership? click here
19. What happens if a learner fails part of the programme while on a learnership? click here
20. What happens to the learner after the learnership? click here
21. What are some of the obstacles to implementing learnerships? click here

Useful Guidelines, Extracts, Tools and Templates

In this section you will find:

Short texts on different aspects of learnerships. These are descriptions taken or adapted from the NQF Support Link programme.
Extracts or examples taken from longer documents such as SAQA guidelines or learnership guides developed by SETAs.
Actual examples of SETA Learnership Guides.
Further references to documents which can be found on the Department of Labour website.

Overview: Skills programmes and their relationship to Learnerships. click here

Primary functions of national bodies in Learnerships and Skills programmes.click here

Rights and duties of the three main parties in Learnership Implementaton. click here

Primary functions of providers in implementing Learnerships. click here

Structure for managing Learnership Implementation. click here

Primary functions of co-ordinating bodies in the implementation of Learnerships. click here

Example of a Learnership Agreement. click here

Overview of steps and phases for implementing Learnerships. click here

An example of a detailed model for implementing Learnerships. click here

Planning for administration and finance in Learnership implementation. click here

Example: SETA Learnership Guide click here
Most SETA ETQA websites offer resources on learnership planning and implementation for stakeholders in their sector.The FASSET Guide is given as a useful example of guidelines for developing learnerships,including tools and templates that could be adapted across sectors.

Fasset Learnership Information Pack Section 1
Fasset Learnership Information Pack Section 2

Summary: Key Questions: Recruitment and Selection for Learnerships click here

Extract: Overview of the Learnership Process (example from FASSET guide) click here
Good Practice in Workbased Learning. (Peter Skippington, Australian National Training Authority, 2002) click here

Extract from SAQA: Designing programmes against qualifications
Note: The following extract is taken from SAQA policy document ‘Criteria and guidelines for assessment of NQF registered unit standards and qualifications’ (SAQA Policy Document October 2001). This information applies to learnerships which need to be designed towards the achievement of a qualification. click here
Extract from SAQA: Integrated assessment in the learnership curriculum
Note: The following extract is taken from SAQA document ‘Guidelines for Integrated Assessment (SAQA, September 2005). These comments may be helpful in the design of the learnership curriculum and its assessment, as integrated assessment is specified as a feature of qualifications and therefore learnerships. This information applies to learnerships which need to be designed towards the achievement of a qualification. click here
List of Basic and How to Guides on Department of Labour website click here