Introduction: What is SETA

What is SETA? SETA stands for Sector Education and Training Authority. SETAs are organisations that were established in South Africa to support skills development and training in the different industries. They address skills shortages by supporting programmes such as learnerships, apprenticeships, internships or any other training opportunities.
For many South Africans, especially the unemployed, SETA can be a great opportunity to find practical skills development and training opportunities that can provide them with a qualification and valuable work experience. SETA can also help one to be up to date with the latest skills development and training programmes and qualifications that are relevant to the industry sectors. Knowing more about SETA can help one to look out for relevant opportunities that can support one’s skills and education.

What Is the Purpose of SETA?

The main purpose of SETA is to promote skills development and prepare South Africans for the workplace. All SETAs focus their efforts on a specific economic sector in order to align training to the skills that employers need.

The main functions of SETA include:

• Addressing skills shortages: SETAs play a key role in addressing skills shortages by addressing training needs of different industries.
• Supporting learnerships: SETAs support learnerships and apprenticeships in order to facilitate employer-driven skills development.
• Funding skills development: SETAs fund eligible employers and training providers who support skills development of learners.
• Promoting qualifications: SETAs promote qualifications and learning programmes so that learners can build the skills and competencies that industries demand.
• Increasing employment opportunities: SETAs create opportunities for learners to gain the relevant skills, training and work experience that can support them with employment.

Through all of these functions, SETAs can play a role in supporting skills development and lifelong learning in South Africa.

How does SETA work?

SETA works by aligning the skills needs of the industries to the relevant training and development opportunities. SETA focuses on specific sectors and works with employers, training providers and other stakeholders to support relevant learning opportunities.
For example, a young South African that is interested in the agricultural industry or farming can look out for opportunities that are facilitated by the Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority (AGRISETA). Depending on the opportunities that are available, one might find learnerships, skills development and training that are relevant to the agricultural sector.

The general process includes:

1. Identification of skills needs: The relevant SETA usually works with the stakeholders to identify the skills needs of the specific economic sector.
2. Supporting training programmes: SETA funds eligible employers and training providers that offer training, skills development and learnerships that address skills shortages.
3. Employment opportunities: Eligible employers or training providers usually advertise available opportunities. Prospective learners then apply for their shortlisted opportunities.
4. Providing training: Learners usually go through the required theoretical and workplace training to gain the necessary skills and work experience.
5. Assessment: All learners usually have to complete the required assessments for the specific programme.
6. Awarding qualifications: Depending on the programme, learners might be awarded with a certificate or qualification if they are able to complete the requirements of the relevant awarding body.

It is important to note that simply registering with SETA does not guarantee that one will secure a position, get admitted to a skills programme or even get funding.

Who qualifies for SETA ?

There is no one-size-fits-all requirements for SETA. This is because each learnership, apprenticeship, bursary or skills development programme has specific requirements for learners that want to participate.

Depending on the learnership, some of the general requirements might include:

• Unemployed South African youth.
• Matriculants that are looking for their first job.
• TVET college students and graduates.
• University graduates that are looking to gain work experience.
• Employed individuals that want to gain new skills.
• Individuals that are interested in developing technical or artisan skills.

Most of these opportunities usually require a grade 12 certificate, specific subjects or qualifications, work experience or even meeting a certain age bracket.

Are SETA Courses Free?

Most of the learnerships and training programmes that are eligible for funding usually offer the opportunity to learners without tuition or other fees. However, not all of the courses that are associated with SETA are automatically free of charge. The cost might largely depend on the specific skills programme, funding and the organisation that will be providing the training. It is important to clarify if there are any costs and if the opportunity is fully funded. Likewise, it is important to make sure that the learner is working with an organisation that is registered to provide the necessary training.

Does SETA Pay Monthly?

SETA usually does not pay every learner who registers with them. Monthly payments largely depend on the learnership or programme that a learner joins. As such, some learnerships might only pay the learners that join them during their time in the learnership while others might not pay at all.
Learners should make sure to identify the terms of the specific learnership, skills programme or even the bursary that they are considering. Most learnerships that are funded by SETA provide a stipend to unemployed learners. This means that the employers will be providing learners with pocket money as a stipend to the financial support that they will receive once they enter the job market. On the other hand, a skills programme might not provide learners with a stipend. The amount and payment schedule can depend largely on the employer, training provider and even the skills programme.

How Long Does SETA Take to Approve?

SETA does not have a standard approval time for all of the opportunities that it funds. Approval time largely depends on the opportunity that a learner applies for and the process that they will need to follow.
For example, approving learnerships, learnership agreements, bursary applications and learner applications can take a different amount of time. It can take weeks or even months to approve an application depending on the process and documentation.
To prevent delays, it is important for learners to make sure that they provide the SETA with all of the required documents. Likewise, they should also contact the relevant SETA or training provider to clarify the approval process.

What Is a SETA Certificate?

A SETA certificate is a certificate that is given to a learner upon successful completion of a relevant training programme or qualification.
Depending on the programme, the certificate can differ significantly. This is because certificates can be issued by different awarding bodies. For instance, a certificate can be issued to show that a learner has successfully completed a learnership, skills programme or even certain qualifications.
A certificate can be a great way for learners to show potential employers that they have relevant skills and competencies. However, it is important to note that the certificate’s value largely depends on the qualifications and its relevance to the job.

How Do I Register My CV With SETA?

If one is looking to find SETA learnerships, apprenticeships or any other opportunities, it will be important to make sure they keep their Curriculum Vitae (CV) updated. There is no one-size-fits-all way to register one’s CV with SETA.

However, one can take the following steps:

1. Identifying relevant SETA: First, a learner needs to make sure that they are targeting the right SETA that offers the opportunities that they are looking for.
2. Checking SETA’s website: The learner should check the website of the SETA in question to identify registration options.
3. Applying for learner registration: If possible, the learner should register as a learner on the SETA’s website.
4. Applying for advertised opportunities: The learner should also check the SETA’s website and apply for opportunities that they are interested in.
5. Updating CV and documents: The learner should always make sure that all of their documents, including South African ID, matriculation certificate and other relevant documents are up to date.
6. Registering as a work-seeker: The learner can also register as a work-seeker at the nearest Department of Employment and Labour. This can help to connect one with potential employers.

It is important to note that simply registering a CV with SETA does not guarantee that one will be admitted to a learnership. It is important for a learner to meet the requirements of a specific opportunity and be able to go through the selection processes that are required. It is important for learners to note that being selected for learnerships or internships does not guarantee that they will secure employment at the end of these programmes.

Types of SETAs

South Africa has 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities. Each of the authorities focuses on specific economic sectors to develop training and development opportunities.

Some of the SETAs include:

• EWSETA: Energy and water.
• AgriSETA: Agriculture.
• CETA: Construction.
• MICT SETA: Media, information and communication technologies.
• MERSETA: Manufacturing, engineering and related services.
• TETA: Transport.
• Services SETA: Services-related industries.
• SASSETA: Safety and security.

Researching the different SETAs can help to find relevant training and development opportunities for one’s career.

Is SETA a Bursary or a Loan?

SETA is a Sector Education and Training Authority that supports skills development in a specific industry. SETA itself is neither a bursary nor a loan. On the other hand, a number of SETAs can provide bursary opportunities depending on their funding and the specific opportunities that an applicant wants to pursue.
A bursary usually provides financial assistance to eligible students to complete specific studies. On the other hand, a loan is a type of debt that is usually repaid to the lender.
A SETA-funded learnership differs significantly from a bursary or a loan, as it includes training and work experience and even a stipend for unemployed learners.
If one is looking for a bursary, it will be important to check the SETA’s official website for bursary opportunities and their requirements.

Conclusion

Knowing more about what SETA is can support one in looking for relevant skills development and training opportunities to support one’s career beyond their university studies. Through learnerships, apprenticeships, skills programmes and other support, SETAs can provide learners with the skills that are needed for various industries in South Africa.
If one is a South African that is unemployed or a student that is looking to plan their career, it will be important to research the relevant SETA, look for their current opportunities and apply for programmes that have requirements that match one’s qualifications.