Mercedes-Benz, MerSETA initiate learnership to address technician shortage
The scarcity of appropriately skilled technicians in the automotive sector has spurred Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) to extend their involvement in the training of technicians by initiating a technical learnership at the St Anthony's Education Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng.
The three-year pilot programme sees the motor manufacturer collaborating with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MerSETA) and St Anthony's to provide NQF level three qualifications for an initial intake of 24 students. Funding of R1.4 million per year will be made available by MBSA and MerSETA, with St Anthony's staff providing the training competence for the theoretical part of the programme.
Students will be mentored by dealerships
MBSA have enlisted the assistance of their dealer network, which comprises 87 dealerships across the country, to expose the students to the workplace and provide on-the-job training. Each student will have the opportunity to be mentored by a dealership for four months. During this time they will complete their portfolio of evidence for their final assessments, putting theoretical studies into practise. The students receive a stipend during this practical training phase, which also includes a month's exposure to MBSA's specialised, product-specific maintenance training.
Successful completion of the programme will equip students with a Certificate in Automotive Repair and Maintenance, but the workplace exposure will give them a head start in their future careers.
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