Training matrics for the workplace

The City of Cape Town is aiming to bridge the gap between matric and employment.

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Cape Town - Bridging the gap between matric and employment would make up the bulk of training currently underway with 300 unemployed matriculants.

The City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Directorate says it is targeting matriculants who lack the skills needed for the workplace.

“We are constantly reminded that unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing our youth,” said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Social Development and Early Childhood Development Suzette Little on Thursday.

“Sadly, the gap between an academic qualification and workplace readiness is a bridge too far for many. That is why we have to harness our energies and equip these young people with the skills that will help them compete for jobs, but also to develop their entrepreneurial know-how.”

Through the directorate’s Youth Development Programme - which had been allocated a budget of R3 050 000 for the 2015/16 financial year - 300 unemployed matriculants would participate in a three-day long programme.

Here, they would learn about “the ethics of holding down a job, CV-writing, interview skills and basic computer skills like Microsoft Word and Excel”.

“This programme is designed to cover the areas that the school curriculum doesn’t necessarily focus on,” said Little. “It is one thing to be book smart, but the practicalities, like appropriate dress and behaviour, during a job interview are equally important.

Of these 300, 200 would then go on to participate in a 66-day work opportunity, facilitated by the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme.

Through EPWP, the 200 would be deployed at local schools where they would perform administrative and other support functions.

In addition to this, a further 800 youth would undergo life skills training sessions. These participants, all between the ages of 14 and 21, are considered “‘unengaged’ and potentially at risk of falling through the social net”.

African News Agency