Assisting South African manufacturers
Triple E Training is assisting South African manufacturers, including a 100-year-old packaged goods producer, to address digital illiteracy among their employees. In a rapidly advancing digital era, digital literacy is essential not only for white-collar workers but also for blue-collar employees expected to operate electronic devices and complex systems.
However, functional illiteracy and limited numeracy skills among many South African factory workers present significant challenges, compounded by the lack of written resources in indigenous languages like Zulu and Xhosa. This issue hampers both workforce development and the adoption of new technologies, threatening local industries’ ability to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The packaged goods producer engaged Triple E Training to provide basic literacy and numeracy skills to its workforce, aligned with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 1. The program also focuses on English fluency, enabling effective communication across the company’s operations. Employees completing the program can further advance to attain a Senior Certificate as part of the company’s broader upskilling initiative, creating a talent pool for future needs.
South Africa faces a skills crisis
South Africa faces a skills crisis, with significant mismatches and shortages in industry. Education levels among employed South Africans are declining, with over 41.8% of workers lacking secondary schooling. Only 12.2% hold a degree, and 10.8% possess a diploma. This deficit hinders workforce readiness for digital technology adoption, making foundational education critical. Triple E Training highlights the importance of continuing to develop motivated employees to keep pace with technological disruptions.
With its extensive national footprint, Triple E Training delivers quality Adult Education and Training (AET) at client sites, adapting schedules to minimize disruption to production. On-site training fosters relevance by directly linking the skills learned to workplace applications, enhancing employee motivation and retention.
The assessment process
The process begins with assessing employees’ existing skills to identify gaps and place them at the appropriate AET level. Each level incrementally builds English literacy and numeracy, culminating in a General Education and Training Certificate accredited by
Umalusi Council. This tailored approach ensures employees can seamlessly transition into the program and achieve tangible outcomes.
Triple E Training’s customized AET programs address foundational education needs while preparing employees for a digital workplace. By empowering blue-collar workers with literacy, numeracy, and English fluency, manufacturers like the packaged goods producer can enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and innovation, ultimately positioning their operations for success in the digital age.
For more details, visit www.eee.co.za.