By Lungile Ntimba
More South Africans are turning to online learning as the country deals with soaring unemployment, the rise of the gig economy and an increasing demand for digitally skilled employees, according to Telkom.
Platforms such as TelkomLearn has seen thousands of participants capitalising on the platform’s flexibility and free courses.
Telkom innovation and transformation executive Mmaki Jantjies said the platform stood out because of its collaboration with Google, IBM, HP, Alibaba Cloud and Duke Corporate Education, ensuring nearly 100 NQF and globally accredited courses.
“The courses are designed to equip participants with in-demand skills while sparking creative and critical thinking. We are pleased with the uptake and course completion rate,” Jantjies said in a statement.
“What’s also encouraging is that since the beginning of this year, we’ve recorded nearly 4000 new registrations. People are eager to learn, upskill and position themselves for success in the digital economy.”
She said participants had shown a strong interest in starting and growing digital businesses. Some of the most popular courses were Effective Business Websites, IT for Business Success, Presenting Data and Social Media Marketing.
The courses assisted individuals in adapting to an evolving job market, improved their employability and unlocked new entrepreneurial opportunities, Jantjies said.
“The interest in business-related courses is particularly exciting because it shows that people are actively looking for ways to become more financially independent, start their own businesses and harness technology to create new opportunities,” she said.
“We are thrilled to see so many South Africans taking advantage of TelkomLearn to build their digital knowledge.”
Jantjies said the platform formed part of Telkom’s broader vision to support digital inclusion and bridge the knowledge gap, ensuring that more people were equipped to thrive in the digital economy.
INSIDE EDUCATION
