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Johnathan Paoli
A historic one-year learnership programme has been launched under the theme of the Umcebo Ngemfundo (“Wealth through Education”) to assist in bridging the gap between people living with disabilities and accessing skills, specifically within the finance and accounting sector.
The Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET), together with Blind SA, launched a collaborative learnership programme, Umcebo Ngemfundo, on Thursday at the Protea OR Tambo Hotel and Conference Centre.
Blind SA President Christo de Klerk welcomed the event attendees and thanked everyone for their support and work in facilitating this transformative initiative.
“Thank you to those who have partnered with us in one of Blind SA’s most ambitious projects. This is new to us, but we commend you for joining us in this plunge into the dark,” de Klerk said.
Organisers for the launch said with 98% of visually impaired people unemployed in the country due to labour market factors; this programme aims to provide visually impaired people with the skills they need to close the skills gap between education and the workforce.
The programme is expected to illustrate how independence and wealth will be achieved in the lives of the students after they complete the course, especially since they will be employable and earn decent salaries.
Blind SA CEO Jace Nair said the launch marked a historic day in transformation.
He said that just over 10% of the visually impaired have primary education and that it was thus essential to acquire skills and qualifications to reduce unemployment and dependency on social grants within the blind community.
Nair said only 40% of Blind SA’s members had grade 11 or higher and that none of the treasurers operating in the organisation’s 49 branches across the country had any financial or accounting training.
“We also have the challenge that there are just over 24 schools for the blind and that learners at the schools are not exposed to accounting, maths or stem subjects, effectively limiting their access to tertiary institutions,” he said.
The CEO confirmed that 114 applicants applied for the programme over the last month, but as only 50 places were available, further interviews were required.
Nair said 41 out of the 50 places were among the youth, and 31 were women, highlighting the need for transformation within the blind community.
The programme comprises six months of classroom instruction and another six months of hands-on training at organisations like Work Integrated Training Solutions, facilitated by the South African Chambers of Commerce.
The CEO confirmed that face-to-face training would be conducted in the applicants’ home provinces and said that 19 were from Gauteng, with the remainder from the rest of the country.
Nair highlighted the crucial role of placement through private sector partners, which ensures that learners spend at least six months acquiring the experience, ethics, and skills of the working environment.
In addition, the CEO said for these learners to succeed, they require reasonable accommodation and the provision of laptops with screen reading software.
“We have to provide training to our learners so they can use Zoom and other platforms because training is blended online and face-to-face, and we are grateful to receive financial and other forms of support,” Nair said.
Interim Chair of the FASSAT Board Bongani Mathibela praised the launch of what he called the first of its kind for all organisations involved.
“Our vision is to create valuable learning experiences that make a meaningful impact in the lives of the beneficiaries,” Mathibela said.
He thanked the hard work of the FASSET staff in empowering members of the country who were prevented from accessing employment opportunities and contributing to the economy.
Programme beneficiary Wendy Hill from Pretoria thanked the organisations involved. It said she would not have gotten where she did without the help and support of such programmes.
“To be partially sighted is very challenging and very difficult. This is a blessing, from being told you can’t be accommodated to being told there are no facilities for you. I don’t just speak for myself, I speak for 18 others, we are blessed,” she said.
The launch concluded with anticipation of a positive outcome for the program.
“We are certain that it will transform lives and contribute positively towards the country’s economy through harvesting financial stability, accessibility, equal opportunities and inclusion,” Mathibela said.
Induction is expected to start next week, with the programme beneficiaries meeting and organising with the technical team.
INSIDE EDUCATION