First group of PWMSA (GP) women trained in ICT by Bytes graduated

“The graduation of these 30 female learners in End-user Computing confirms our belief of the important role that women can play within local government institutions in bridging the digital divide, the economic divide as well as the generational divide. With the help of Bytes People Solutions we are empowering women to help fill the skills gap in this country,” said Dr Gwen Ramokgoba, the chairman of the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) in her address at the graduation ceremony for the first 30 women at the Tshwane Academy for Leadership and Management.

The prestigious function marks the success of the programme with the graduation of the first 30 learners in End-user Computing. The graduation ceremony was attended by many dignitaries including the National Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Prof Hlengiwe, the Premier of Gauteng Province, Ms Nomvula, the Director General of the Gauteng Province, Ms Nosizwe, the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Mr Kogisientso and the Chief Executive Officer of the Bytes Group, Rob Abraham and the Managing Director of Bytes People Solutions, Dr Madelise Grobler.

The ICT training project was launched by the PWMSA in July last year at the Tshwane Academy for Leadership and Management. The project, made possible through a partnership between PWMSA and Bytes People Solutions and funded by the Media, Advertising, Information and Communication Technologies Training Authority (MICT Seta), is aimed at training young women in ICT in six Gauteng municipalities. The municipalities include Tshwane, Ekuhuleni, Metsweding, Sedibeng, Wesrand and Johannesburg Central.

Bytes People Solutions, a company in the Bytes Technology Group, wholly owned by JSE-listed Altron, was elected as the partner of choice based on its long record of successful learnerships in ICT training with more than 3500 people passing through its programmes of which more than 50% are women.

“The learners and specifically these graduates are indeed the most important partners in this programme. By participating and succeeding in graduating, these women demonstrated their capability and will lead the way in addressing the serious level of ICT illiteracy among women in this country,” said Dr Ramokgopa.

Dr Madelise Grobler said: “After passing the strict selection process, the women went on to excell in their learning and acquiring of a new ICT skill set. They have a very real chance of succeeding in the workplace and we have every confidence that they are now ready to add value to any of the companies to which they are assigned.”

All the graduates have also gained practical workplace experience and coaching during their year of training. For this purpose employment opportunities were provided through the utilisation of the workplace networks of the three partners.