Learners' experiences of learnership programmes in an information technology organisation

Abstract

Learnerships are occupational and vocational education training programmes that have been provided to fast-track acquisition of qualifications for unemployed youth, equipping them with knowledge, skills and experience. This research is an investigation of learners’ experiences of learnership programmes and the factors affecting the retention of the learners. More precisely, the research is about learners’ experiences of learnership programmes in an information technology (IT) organisation in South Africa. The retention rates of learners in learnership programmes have been comparably low in recent years. In order to understand this phenomenon, one had to investigate the factors that affect such retention rates. This is a study of the lived experiences of learners enrolled in a learnership programmes, conducted to examine their perceptions of a learnership qualification. A qualitative research approach was used to collect the lived experiences of 16 participants selected from one training provider. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with the learners. The data collected was analysed by adopting thematic analysis and findings presented in a narrative form. The results from both the theoretical framework and the empirical inquiry suggest that competitive remuneration, career advancement possibilities, exciting jobs and opportunity for personal development improve learner retention, whereas the lack of these attributes is seen to entail turnover. The study was conducted in only one IT organisation and the results cannot, therefore, be generalisable throughout the IT learnership programmes. Future studies should include learners from a sizeable number of organisations and should also consider organisations in other provinces, and not those in Gauteng alone.