Apply to the Learnerships at the South African Weather Service concerning TVET

As part of their TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programs, South African Weather Service (SAWS) offers learnerships every year, which provide young South African citizens the chance to acquire new skills and, along the way, gain exposure to the workplace and obtain a nationally endorsed certificate. These learnerships help employers and employees find a mutually beneficial relationship. Students are able to create work in the industries of meteorology, information and communications technology, engineering, and several other associated fields. If you’re a motivated individual who would like to begin your career with SAWS, this document will provide you with the necessary information to apply to these learnerships.

What Are TVET Learnerships?

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) approves TVET learnerships, which serve as work-integrated learning programs. They are designed to last anywhere from twelve to twenty-four months, and provide a combination of theoretical and practical experience in the workplace. Upon completion, a learner is awarded a certificate or diploma that is recognized nationally, thus helping to make them more employable.

The majority of learnerships at SAWS tend to focus on the provision of technical, scientific, and operational support. This may include weather forecasting, data capturing, and analytical support services.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Checking the eligibility criteria is the first step in completing an application. While the specifics can change from intake to intake, the common eligibility criteria for SAWS TVET learnerships are listed below.

1. Must Be a South African Citizen

The applicant is required to have a valid South African ID.

2. Age Limit

There is typically no upper age limit for these programmes, however, these are intended for youth and young adults (18 – 35) who are seeking work experience.

3. Education Qualifications

The educational criteria are typically as follows –

A Grade 12 certificate and a few required subjects (Maths and Physical Science) OR

A vocational / technical qualification that is relevant to the learnership.

There are several learnership streams, and each one has its own required subjects, so pay attention to the SAWS learnership advert as it will list the qualifications required.

4. Must Be Your First Learnership

As many programmes are first-time learner programmes, having been a part of a learnership before will disqualify you from applying.

Where to Explore Learnerships

In a year, SAWS posts adverts for TVET learnerships once or twice, and advertises via a few different channels:

Official SAWS Website (Careers section)

Portals for Government Vacancies

Local Papers and Community Boards

Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)

Given the interest for these learnerships, make a habit to regularly check and monitor for these openings.

Tips for Applications

Application packages typically include:

1. Application Form

Some learnerships have a form for you to download, while some others have an online application portal. Please read the instructions carefully.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

This document should be:

Plain and with a Form title

Focusing on education, separate skills, and all experience that is relevant

Written aligned to the learnership outcomes

3. Documents (certified copies)

These include:

Your South African ID

Your Grade 12 certificate or highest qualification

Your subject certificate for Matric

Your proof of residence (you can leave this out)

Any other documents that have to be included, certified.

In the event copies older than 3 months, you will be unable to certify documents.

4. Motivation Letter

A motivation letter describes:

Why the learnership interests you
How the learnership lines up with your career goals
Why you are the best fit

Use an informal tone to your advantage and let your personality shine!

Tips for a Strong Application

Start as Early as Possible
Start gathering as soon as possible. Check requirements and documents to ensure everything is there.

Check Subject Requirements
If the learnership you are applying for requests for a pass in either Maths or Sciences, ensure your results meet that criteria.

Be Accurate
Missing documents, incorrect details, or typos can result in an automatic disqualification.

Tailor Your CV
Align your experiences and skills listed on your CV to the learnership. Do not forget to include any informal or voluntary work you might have done!

Submit Before the Due Date
If you do not meet the application deadline, you will not be considered for the learnership.

What Happens After You Apply?

After you submit your application, the following will happen:

1. Screening

Applications are screened in order to identify applicants to move to the next step.

2. Assessment

If you move to the next step, you will be required to do:
Written tests Interviews Practical tests depending on the field

3. Notification

If you pass the assessment stage, you will get an email or a letter. It will include instructions, details of offers, and what to do next.

What comes next after acceptance

To be MVSA accepted is the first step in the journey. Here is what the programme entails:

Workplace-based Learning

This is where you will study and gain hands-on experience, regarding the theory, which you will learn either in a TVET college or through some online learning modules.

Support and Guidance

You will be assigned a mentor which will be a supporting and steering professional. This person will help you to grow your skill set and gain valuable knowledge.

Monthly Payment

Most learnerships give you a monthly payment to help you cover your basic expenses.

What Is The Value Of A SAWS Learnership?

You can gain the following upon full completion of a SAWS TVET learnership:

You can receive a job offer from SAWS and or from the government

You can receive an offer for further studies from a university or from a TVET college

You can receive offer to work in the fields of meteorology, environmental science, data science, ICT and engineering

Learnerships can offer you more‘ meaningful career’ in an area where the demand for skilled technical professionals is high’’.

Closing Comments

The process of preparing and applying to the South African Weather Service TVET learnership involves a significant amount of time and detail to complete successfully, not to mention the level of commitment over time to be able to see the process to the end. Gaining practical experience and a formally accredited qualification makes the investment of time and effort in the learnership worthwhile, so ensure that your qualifications and documents match the opportunity. Watch out for learnership adverts, and prepare your documents in advance so you can maximise your chances of success.