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Computer and Business Fundamentals Training

The main focus of this cost centre is the eight week computer training and business fundamentals course. We run two computer studios and a theory classroom full time, mainly for entry level students. We also run advanced classes during the year.

The studios are seen as a need to address some of the skills shortages of our youth who have left school and are looking for work.

The computer studios offer three options of training:

1. The eight-week full time Work Skills Training Programme consisting of Business Fundamentals and Basic & Intermediate Computer Literacy
2. The six-week full time Advanced Computer Literacy
3. The Evening and Saturday Computer Technology class

All computer courses include Windows, Typing, Word and Excel, with the more advanced classes adding advanced versions of the above and including Power Point, Access, Outlook, the Internet and E–mail. The Business Fundamentals course includes topics such as Business Communication, Self-Empowerment, Work Management, Basic Accounts, Economics, Taxation etc.

We trained a total of 449 students in categories 1, 2 and 3 above of which a total of 252 were full time students, 72 Saturday class students, 89 evening class students, 36 advanced students. Female students continue to dominate our classes e.g. in one class of 48 students 40 are female and 8 are male.

Word of mouth continued to be the most favoured form of recruitment, followed by advertising via posters and pamphlets. We continue to review our performance and try and make sure that our standards are good and a benefit to all our students.

Through teamwork and working together this department ensures that they deliver what is best for the student. Our trainers must deliver at a high standard and at the end of each course each trainer’s performance is assessed by the students. Students, before the course starts, are informed by the administrator on what the courseware entails and the expectations and commitment we also expect from them.

The department consists of three full time trainers, two who specialise in computer training and one who specialises in theory training. The ratio in the computer classes is one trainer to 12 students. There is also a full time administrator who is assisted by a volunteer trainee. There is a lot of administrative work involved in the running of this project which includes the recruitment of students, to the marking of exam papers and the general smooth running of the office.

Our learners even though resident in Alex come from a cross section of other provinces.

Acknowledgements

Our sincere thanks go to Cummins Corporation for their ongoing support of the computer studios which enables us to charge the community minimal attendance fees and for allowing our students to visit their facilities; to Toyota South Africa for their support of the materials and study guides and volunteer stipends; and Aristocrat Technologies for keeping our hardware running.

We would like to thank all our past and present students for their support, as it is through your participation that we can assist you and continue to assist those students after you.

We would also like to thank the computer team and our assistant for their commitment, input and reliability over the past year.

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