Johannesburg - As part of efforts to make South Africans more employable. Absa has launched a programme with a number of partners to improve skills and literacy rates.
The “ReadytoWork’ programme is aimed at bridging the divide between education and the world of work.
The initiative, which is supported by academics, the government and the private sector across Africa, will help train and equip youngsters to earn a decent living.
In South Africa around 60% of youth unemployed, and often degrees or diplomas do not adequately equip them with the skills they need to successfully make the critical transition from learning to the world of work.
Sazini Mojapelo, Barclays Africa Head of Citizenship said on Tuesday that ReadytoWork was a free training curriculum that sought to empower young people with the training and skills they needed to enhance their chances of employment and entrepreneurial prospects.
“A key priority of our citizenship strategy is to help young people gain access to the skills and opportunities they need to unlock their potential. We have identified education and skills development as a space in which it can make a sustainable contribution through initiatives such as ReadytoWork,” said Mojapelo.
It provided access to world class learning content, focused on work, people, money and entrepreneurial skills, through online content, face-to-face training and work exposure.
The programme is being implemented at universities countrywide ands is also available in some schools in Gauteng. It will be implemented in Limpopo and the Free State next.
It currently also runs in Zambia, Seychelles, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
Labour Bureau