Ignorance prevents companies from reclaiming skills levy

SEVERAL COMPANIES in the transport and freight sectors are losing bucks, and depriving their internal trainees of course credits, by not effectively applying the national qualifications framework (NQF) in their workplaces, according to Melanie Harvard, NQF adviser at DYNA Training. "There are only a few progressive companies in the transport sector who have actually begun to consider such things," she told FTW. "But, for many others, it is not a priority. "This means that their learners are losing out on credits they could be earning - the company is losing out on extra rebates and tax incentives - and they're probably using training courses which are of questionable quality. " But there's a money incentive for those who apply the NQF to their workplace, Harvard added. The members of the industry have all been paying the 1% skills levy for some time, and, according to Harvard's calculations, 70% of that has been reclaimed by those who have made some effort. The Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA), however, is now asking companies to fill in forms claiming discretionary grants. "It's extra money that can be claimed for doing things like skills programmes, learnerships or sector-specific training," says Harvard. And she advises, "don't panic" about the form asking about things like "unit standards" and "accredited training providers". "That," said Harvard, "is just the way in which TETA is trying to ensure its member companies are getting quality training." According to Heather Donaldson of Ršhlig Grindrod, there's almost a need for a mindset change amongst the workforce before the NQF can be applied on the scale it should be. "There are many human resources issues which underly applying the NQF," she said, "but for which the system has no ready answers. "Things like lower-level learners who are resistant to assessment, change and further learning." Harvard's suggestion is that companies start small. "Try training maybe one or two willing employees in a pilot process," she said. "Use an external, accredited training provider and cover a specific unit standard." "The NQF is jokingly termed Not Quite Finished," said Harvard. "But for a reason. "At present it is mostly theory, with little practical application to use as a benchmark. "However, it is only by getting our hands dirty that we will learn and improve on the system. We can either let the NQF unfold naturally within our companies - which will mean some sharp, last-minute learning curves - or we can take control of it all through a planned process of implementation."