Helping a farming giant grow a competent workforce
Triple E Training helped a well-established farming company in rural KwaZulu-Natal that supplies both the import and export markets to identify concerning basic education skills gaps in the organisation. Once we understood the serious nature of the problem, we were able to implement a targeted training solution to upskill the company’s more than 300 employees.
Expert intervention exposes major skills gaps
This is but one example of the importance of a readiness assessment undertaken by a skilled and experienced training provider. Our client knew very well that its workforce had limited basic education skills. However, the company was unaware as to just how wide the literacy and numeracy skills gap was. The company was under the assumption that members of its team could be placed at higher adult education and training (AET) levels and, thereby, significantly accelerate upskilling. Worryingly, our readiness assessment revealed that most of the employees did not even possess very rudimentary reading comprehension, writing and counting skills. Most of the members of the company’s operational team will have to start AET Level 1. AET Level 1 is equivalent to Grade 3.
Functional illiteracy impedes productivity in the workplace
We suspected that this might be the case in our very early engagements with the client but had to first confirm these suspicions via a comprehensive readiness assessment. Our client noted that employees do not participate in meetings and seldom understand what is required of them when they leave these planning sessions. Therefore, clear and concise instructions are implemented incorrectly, resulting in waste and delays. An interpreter also has to be employed at an additional cost to the company in in-person meetings with individual employees. These meeting are usually of a very serious nature, addressing poor employee performance and behaviour.
Considering that these issues can also be attributed to functional illiteracy, disciplinary meetings also have to be undertaken frequently, placing additional strain on existing company resources. Moreover, employees struggle to manage their personal finances, regularly requesting advances. If the company declines, employees often become disgruntled leading to tension and conflict in the workplace. Weighed down by personal financial issues, workers are distracted at work or arrive late for or miss shifts because they have to attend to pressing personal matters. Understandably, our client is also concerned that the financial predicament of employees may eventually lead to theft of company property as it so often does at other organisations.
Charting a practical way forward
Based on the outcome of our readiness assessment, we met with our client to chart a practical way forward. Concerned by the findings, our client agreed with our proposal to start training at AET Level 1 and, preferably, as soon as possible. In this way, we would ensure that the basic foundations were in place upon which more knowledge could be developed. When the employees have completed AET Level 4, they will be functionally literate with literacy and numeracy skills at a National Qualifications Framework Level 1. They will have, therefore, also been primed for further learning.
The training will be undertaken at the company’s farms and around its production schedule.
Learn more about Triple E Training. www.eee.co.za