Quality AET firmly embedded in the mining industry
The mining industry has always been acutely aware of the importance of skills development. Learnerships, bursaries, portable skills training, internships and Triple E Training’s quality adult education and training (AET) are all deeply embedded in the way that the industry operates. Between 2016 and 2020, mining companies spent more than R6-billion on skills development every year. In doing so, more than 15 000 tertiary-level students were supported and more than 5 000 apprenticeships granted. Many of these students discovered a passion for learning after successfully participating in mine-sponsored AET programmes. Meanwhile, numerous mine workers and unemployed members of host communities are currently completing our clients’ adult literacy and numeracy training programmes. This is so that they can also attain a General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), a National Qualifications Framework Level 1 qualification that facilitates further learning.
A case in point is the more than 40 members of a mining host community that are currently studying towards obtaining a GETC through Triple E Training. They have already passed one of the adult literacy and numeracy training levels. This is the first time in four years that our client was able to achieve the targets that it had established for itself as part of the Human Resources Development programme of its Social Labour Plan (SLP). Submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) for approval to attain mining rights, an SLP outlines a mine’s commitment to responsible extraction of South Africa’s vast mineral wealth. This includes ensuring that host communities also benefit from mining. The DMR evaluates mines’ performance in terms of meeting their commitments outlined in SLPs, which are updated periodically. If these obligations have not been honoured, the authorities can withdraw the mining rights and award them to another company.
Mining sustainability relies on skills development
The mining industry’s sustainability depends on appropriate skills development initiatives. This is in addition to a sound understanding of the skills required to take the larger economy forward. However, not all mining companies view skills development in the same light as Triple E Training’s clients. As is the case in so many other industries, there are mining houses that still approach the Human Resources Development requirement as little more than a “box-ticking” exercise to attain points towards the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment scorecard. This small effort fails to reap the full potential that robust skills development offers. Furthermore, it undermines real transformation of the economy as designated citizens are being held back from achieving their potential. Bear in mind that many of these individuals are unable to access quality education because they are poor.
If undertaken correctly, community-based skills development plays a critical role in improving mining companies’ standing in their surrounding areas. In turn, this bolsters their social license to operate among societies whose buy-in is critical and, in this way, limiting social and economic tensions.
These projects also benefit the local and larger national economy as skilled community members secure employment or start their own vibrant businesses.
Social aspects have become a critically important pillar of mining success in the country and in other African countries. They are equally strategic as and, in some instances, even more important than the technical functions and political buy-in. This is especially as more mines expand on communal land in the former “homeland” areas. There have already been intense conflicts between mines and community members over mineral-rich land and mining royalties in villages that span the platinum belt in the North West, for example. These have even culminated in acts of violence against mine management and personnel by disgruntled community members.
Passing AET with flying colours
In awarding our client its mining rights, the DMR agreed that the company commit to upskilling more than 30 unemployed members of Phokeng in the North West. Considering the very low skills levels of the Phokeng adult population, unemployment is high in this community and its few members who do have jobs earn very low incomes. Therefore, this community is in dire need of skills development.
Triple E Training recruited learners on behalf of our client using a variety of proven methods, while involving the community and its leaders in the process. We then assessed the extent of the candidates’ literacy and numeracy skills. This enabled us to place them at a suitable AET level, which was critically important considering the very low basic education skills of the candidates. They would not have been able to cope with the course content of higher AET levels. From experience we know that learners who struggle will become frustrated and demotivated and eventually drop out of the programme. Both the mine and learners suffer in these instances.
The fact that all the learners recruited passed our literacy and numeracy training with flying colours and are looking forward to progressing to the next AET level is testament to the efficacy of our approach.
Learn more about Triple E Training, the mining industry’s preferred AET provider. www.eee.co.za