Skills college in eMbalenhle may shut down if there are no learners

The Advance Skills Academy which offers health and safety skills for free to young people who are unemployed in eMbalenhle is facing a bleak future.

The skills centre is accredited by Health and Welfare seta and is offering free courses that are aimed at assisting young people to access the job market.

According to Themba Nkosi, a facilitator, the academy began last year and is operating from the Ebenezer Christian Church in eMbalenhle.

He said when the academy was opened, they received an overwhelming number of students who registered but later dropped out.

“The reason for the high number of dropouts is because many young people thought that we also provide a stipend. When we explained to them that there is no stipend, they disappeared.

“We only give them skills to be employable, we have a huge number of unemployed young people in our township of whom some became drug addicts,” said Nkosi.

“Our aim of establishing the academy was to change that, a health and safety certificate is what many companies want because safety comes first before any individual can begin work.

“We are situated next to industries and mines, we need to skill ourselves to be ready for employment opportunities. A stipend will not create opportunities for us as young people,” said Nkosi.

Nkosi said seta requires 200 students to continue to fund their skills development programme. Without that, the academy other than that will be forced to shut down.

He said currently they have 120 learners and they are willing to offer more free courses that can assist youth.

Nkosi said their course includes theory and practicals in health and safety in the workplace.

They are also are planning to have a graduation of their first class in October this year.

He said any young person between the age of 18 to 27 who have an interest in a health and safety career, can contact Themba Nkosi on 076 128 6829 or visit the Ebenezer Christian Church at the back of eMbalenhle Mall.