Evaluating the impact of employment skills development services (ESDS) training programme of the Department of Labour

Abstract

This research evaluates the causes for the failure of DoL training projects to produce a skilled and employable workforce after being trained through the Skills Development Act initiatives. The actual teaching process during training is a focal point in this research, unlike the past Job Placement Verification Studies which ignored this development. The fundamentals of evaluation are discussed with emphasis placed on the purpose of a training programme offered by the DoL. In this study, a qualitative paradigm that in essence entails the systematic noting and recording of events, behaviours and artefacts in the social setting was the design and methodology which underpins my choice of case study and observations. I targeted a particular group in the full knowledge that it does not represent the wider population but simply represented itself, thus I cannot make generalizations from the results. Different theories on programme evaluation, adult learning and learning theories are highlighted and a link between different theories and approaches to training programmes is created. Analysis of data has shown that peripherals and antecedents have been largely ignored by the previous studies, and influenced the actual training programme, trainees and training outcomes adversely. Additionally the enquiry has uncovered several instructional related factors that have contributed to non-delivery. These range from the level of readiness of trainees, the competency of the instructor and adequacy of the learning material to the actual instructional context and learning environment. All revealed that every aspect mentioned has a critical role to play in achieving the training objectives. The research concludes with a brief discussion on recommendations to review the entire process of DoL training programmes. Copyright