Accelerating skills development and job creation with digital learning programmes

Stats SA recently announced that SA’s unemployment rate hit 34.4% for the second quarter of 2021. This excludes the job losses caused by the unrest and looting that occurred in July. The unemployment rate continues to rise and raises much concern. The question is what needs to be done to address this crisis, and how skills development and training can accelerate job creation and financial inclusion in our country. 

“Go digital or be left behind,” says Louis Pulzone, CEO of LFP Group, which works with both private and public sector organisations to actively drive skills development, socio-economic development and job creation in SA.

“To be relevant in today’s agile and competitive environment, businesses and learners alike cannot be expected to rely on outdated learning approaches,” says Pulzone. Recognising that digital is the future, the LFP Group itself adopted a digital-learning approach and now offers instructor-led training and learning programmes through its various virtual classrooms and digital campuses.  This digital education and training model gives learners access to classroom facilitators at any time. More importantly, LFP’s learnership programmes do more than just educate and train: they empower learners through easily accessible and customised programmes, both accredited and non-accredited.

Jobs and inclusion vs certificates

Pulzone notes that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic aside, South Africa’s rising unemployment rate has been a long time in the making.  “As much as the focus has to be on continuous learning, upskilling, education and empowerment, South Africa’s first priority is to swiftly shift towards an outcome-based education model that achieves job placement and financial inclusion, as opposed to a system that results in graduates whose degree certificates have little or no value,” he says. 

Fast-tracking skills development

Renowned for its excellence in training and education, LFP Digital Campus is designed for the fast-progressing digital world and is a hub of learning experts who help to deliver market-led training. The high-quality, career-focussed qualifications cover a wide spectrum of digital learning programmes that include short courses, certificates and national diplomas relevant to most industries, from wholesale and retail, to agriculture, human resources and even entrepreneurship. 

Welfare and sustainability

While the government should be commended for its support of underprivileged citizens, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, certain social policies have to be questioned. For instance, to what extent does the social grants system create a sense of entitlement and complacency that perpetuates the high unemployment rate? Should government not rather invest time and resources in creating a steering committee that can galvanise the private and public sector, SETAs included, to collaborate and fast track skills development with a digital model that has job placements as its ultimate objective?

“We understand that job placements and financial inclusion are not quick fixes, but that does not mean they are unattainable,” says Pulzone. “The only way to tackle SA’s high unemployment rate is through education, skills development and learnership programmes that focus on creating long-term solutions that provide sustainable eco-systems or entrepreneurial hubs, especially in underprivileged communities,” he concludes.

To enquire about the courses and learning programmes offered by LFP Digital Campus, visit

http://lfpdigitalcampus.co.za/, contact 011 791 1602 or e-mail info@lfpdigitalcampus.co.za