Dear Employers/Providers and Farmers

Dear Employers/Providers and Farmers

IMPLEMENTATION OF SKILLS PROGRAMMES

WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Short courses and informal training has always been part of the agricultural sector and has played an important role in the up-skilling of workers in the industry. Short courses can be explained as short learning programmes that fulfill a particular need in the workplace and which greatly facilitate access to learning in a manageable manner in terms of cost, time and energy for the employer and employee. Unlike the skill programmes it may or may not lead to accumulation of credits towards a qualification. However, since the promulgation of the Skills Development Act, 1998, it is expected that these short courses and other training be formalized and replaced by skills programmes. AgriSETA is committed to address real skills development needs in the sector and started the registration of skills programmes in June 2004.

What is a Skills Programme?

Skills Programmes are unit standard based programmes that are occupationally based, and when successfully achieved, constitute credits towards a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

Therefore, skills programmes should be:

·  Unit standard based;

·  Occupationally based;

·  Presented by an accredited provider;

·  Lead to achievement of credits towards a qualification registered in terms of the NQF.

·  Address a demonstrated need in the sector;

·  Lead to a cluster of a minimum of two unit standards;

·  Where applicable and possible, include life- and social skills;

·  Not exceed a total of 24 credits (which = 240 notional hours = 30 days); and

·  Registered by AgriSETA.

In achieving registration of Skill Programmes, AgriSETA has allocated funds to provide assistance to Service Providers and Employers to enhance skills acquisition for the benefit of the entire farming community (for short courses and Skills Programmes). You are therefore invited to study the attached funding application and forward a duly completed application should you have identified any particular need.

Due to limited funds only 25% of your workforce can access the funds for training, which will be limited to a maximum of 30 learners in total. This will be allocated on the first come first served basis. In addition, funding will be allocated to a maximum of 16 credits per learner.

After the initial phase, AgriSETA will then register the skill programmes based on the emerging trends and will also group the short courses, which emerge in a cluster of skill programmes. By June 2004, AgriSETA will then only fund skills programs that fulfill the Skill Development Act (No 97 of 1998) requirements.

Funding of Skills Programmes for employed and unemployed Learners:

Ø  R100 per credit for employed/unemployed Learner plus additional 25% after successful completion.

For example, on Annexure A, pruning deciduous fruit trees is attributed with four credits, which will be multiplied by R100.00. In effect, the amount paid by AgriSETA will be R400.00 per learner plus 25% (R100.00) after successful completion bringing the total amount to R500.00.

How to apply to enroll learners and receive funding:

Any employer or service provider can apply for funding for a particular Skills Programme by completing and submitting the attached application form.

Unit Standards

A total of 200 unit standards are available. The easiest manner to access these are to visit our website http://www.agriseta.co.za search for “qualifications and unit standards”. Once you open any of the qualifications are opened, the relevant unit standards will appear.

Yours faithfully

………………………………

SKILLS DELIVERY DEPARTMENT

FUNDING OF SHORT LEARNING PROGRAMMES

(Skill Programmes and Short Courses)

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FIELDS MUST BE COMPLETED.

1 EMPLOYER DETAIL:
1.1 / Legal name of employer:
Please note: Give detailed information regarding the project, in question. Please attach a motivation.
1.2 / Trading name of employer:
1.3 / Name of Contact Person:
1.4 / Business address: / 1.5 / Postal address:
Province / GP / MP / NW / NC / LP / FS / EC / WC / KZN
1.6 / Tel No: / 1.7 / Fax No:
1.8 / E-Mail address:
1.9 / Company Size / Permanent / 0-49 ; / 50-149 ; / >150
Seasonal / 0-49 ; / 50-149 ; / >150
1.10 / Registration Numbers and Codes:
SARS: / SETA:(in which registered to)
L:
Company Registration Number / Please Tick:
(If Applicable) / Pty
CC
CO
Trust
CBO(Community Based Project)
NGO(Non Government Organisation)
Private
2 DETAIL OF ACCREDITED TRAINING PROVIDER:
2.1 / Legal name:
2.2 / Trading name:
2.3 / Name of Contact Person:
2.4 / Business Address: / 2.5 Postal Address:
Province / GP / MP / NW / NC / LP / FS / EC / WC / KZN
2.5 / Company Registration Number / Please Tick
CC
Pty(Ltd)
2.6 / Tel No: / Fax No: ______
E-Mail address: ______
2.7 / Registration Numbers and Codes:
ETQA (accredited to) / ETQA No:
Accreditation letter attached / YES / NO

Please note that the normal procedures for the registration of learners and recording of learner achievements (as specified by the AGRISETA ETQA) apply.

3 DETAIL OF SHORT LEARNING PROGRAMME TO BE PRESENTED:
UNIT STANDARD
3.1 / SAQA CODE / UNIT STANDARD DESCRIPTION / CREDITS
TOTAL
3.2 / Number of unit standards: / 3.3 learners to be enrolled:
Employed learners / Seasonal Workers
3.4 / ACCREDITED ASSESSOR”S DETAILS (for the above unit standards)
Full Names
Surname
ID Number
Assessor Registration Number
(Please attach the accreditation scope)

Equity and age distribution of Learners: (Compulsory)

African / White / Coloured / Indians
M / F / D / M / F / D / M / F / D / M / F / D
-35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+ / -35 / 35+

NB: In case of the disabled learners please specify the gender.

MALE / FEMALE
Total Number of Disabled Learners
4 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
4.1 / Number of learners approved: / 4.2 / Amount approved:
4.3 / Date of Approval:
4.4 / NSDS Success Indicator / 4.5 / GL Account
4.6 / ETQA Approved / Approved
5 THUS DONE AND SIGNED BY THE PARTIES:
SIGNED AT / ON / 2008
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYER, DULY AUTHORISED / WITNESS 1:
WITNESS 2:
SIGNED AT / ON / 2008
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF AgriSETA, DULY AUTHORISED / WITNESS 1:
WITNESS 2: