Preparing first-time workers for a digital economy: a case study of a South African learnership programme for IT support technicians

Wessmann, Susarah

Preparing first-time workers for a digital economy: a case study of a South African learnership programme for IT support technicians

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

School of Education

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

In South Africa, youth employability remains a critical issue, with increasing research evidencing that first-time workers are ill-equipped for an increasingly digital economy. Motivated by the need to better understand this disconnect between formal education and employment the study focuses on how an Information Technology (IT) Support learnership programme adequately prepares participants with the digital skills and competencies required to succeed in the contemporary work environment. Informed through Cultural-Historical Theory (CHT) this case study examines the experiences of seven participants employed by an Internet Protocol Company (IPC) in Gauteng who were enrolled in a SETA-accredited IT Technical Support programme. This study used semi structured interviews, as well as an initial and repeated task analysis to assess participants' opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills required in an ICT-orientated work environment. The study highlights important insights into aspects of formal education and the learnership programme, that can better prepare South African learners for the digital work environment. Findings indicated despite the fact that participants consider ICT a vital tool, inequality remains a fundamental issue in developing their requisite digital skills and competencies. Specifically, findings distinguished two distinct socio-cultural experiences, exposure and access to ICTs among this study's participants, which impacted them when using ICTs in learnership tasks. In light of these findings this study campaigns for the need for more contextually-sensitive and robust learnership programmes, aimed at promoting meaningful development of employable skills that will enable all individuals to reach their employability goals