The short, sharp, meaningful courses are the ones receiving most support
THE RATE at which the Maritime Industry Training Board (MITB) is dispensing its cash is accelerating, according to MITB: Forwarding and Clearing executive director, Charles Dey.
The rate at which we are financing training courses is extrapolating rapidly, was how he put it.
With the (bill-of-entry) levy starting in 1996, the MITB invested R1-million up to 1998. However, in 98-99, this has bumped up to just over R2.3-m awaiting dispensation to trainees. We have an accumulation of reserves, said Dey, with which to back up all our outlay.
His good news is that businesses in the sector are becoming more alert to training possibilities.
People are suddenly cottoning-on to the fact that the training is already paid for through their levy, said Dey. In its way it's forcing the companies to become more training conscious, find the applicable courses for their upgrading needs, and get their money back that way.
This is also being backed by a supportive addition to company philosophy, according to Dey. The growing acknowledgement that training is necessary for successful survival, he said.
The short, sharp, meaningful courses are the ones receiving most support at the moment, according to Dey. A lot of money is going into two-or-three day, specifically-aimed courses, he said.
But this might be double-edged, Dey warned.
I don't know if employees can apply the knowledge effectively, he said. But it pulls people out of work for less time, and this has to be balanced-in.
One thing that is worth noting, according to Dey, is that - whatever else might change - the training subsidy will not disappear.
The levy stamp might, he said, and be replaced by a payroll levy. But whatever way, the subsidy will remain.
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