On this page, we will propose sustainable ways in which businesses could assist the schools, in order to ensure that school leavers are better prepared for the workplace environment. There are many sustainable ways in which the business could assist school leavers to become more ready for the workplace.
According to BusinessTech, South Africa has graduate unemployment of 12.5% – 22.4 percentage points lower than the national official unemployment rate. This is reflected across all major education levels including tertiary and school qualifications.
Many school leavers who hold various qualifications are currently finding it hard to get employed. The main reason, amongst others, is that they are not workplace ready. Meaning they lack core practical productive skills required in businesses. Businesses will not hire a person that won’t increase productivity. Interestingly enough, as much as businesses might discriminate against school leavers with no required particular workplace skills, businesses are also undeniable responsible to equip those school leavers with the vital productive business skills that they might look for. In other words, businesses must nature and develop students (with the key skills for the workplace) before they leave schools.
Sustainable ways in which businesses could assist the school leavers
Workplace skills vary from industry to industry. However, the following are the proposed sustainable ways, in which businesses could assist school leavers to be ready for the workplace:
- Internships – Businesses can increase the number of internships to the undergraduate students. To do this, businesses should visit high schools as well as universities to assist learners on how to apply. In South Africa an internship will apply to you once you have completed your studies. An internship will provide you with workplace experience. Internships are usually between six months to one year in duration. As an intern you will work under a supervisor who will give you specific tasks to do and will evaluate your work. Currently in South Africa internships are sponsored by companies and some SETAs.
- In-Service – Businesses can also increase theirin-service training capacity to accommodate more students going forward. In-Service Training refers to practical work experience during studies and usually after one or two years of theory are successfully completed.