The three types of training and education are: -
a) Internal staff training programmes
b) Municipality sponsored external training programmes
c) External institution courses for tertiary education for employees and councillors
It is expected that a Human Resources Manager will be empowered to manage, co-ordinate and budget for all training and education within the Municipality.
A. In-House Training Programmes
The Municipality shall from time to time organise programmes for training of employees. Such programmes shall either be for the whole Municipality, departments or individuals as appropriate.
The costs of such programmes will be borne by the Municipality and no agreements are required between the Municipality and the employees. Managers may approach the Skills Development Facilitator to suggest appropriate programmes to be incorporated into the overall training and education curriculum.
Municipality Sponsored External Training Programmes
The Municipality shall from time to time organise programmes for training of employees by external educational institutes/consultants.
Such institutions/consultants shall be chosen at the discretion of the Municipality having fairly evaluated the competencies and appropriateness of the institution/consultant and the costs of the programmes. Such programmes should be for the whole Municipality, departments or all employees as appropriate.
The costs of the programmes will be borne by the Municipality and no agreements are required between the Municipality and the employees. Managers may approach the Skills Development Facilitator to suggest appropriate programmes to be incorporated in:
External Institution Courses For Individuals
Such courses shall be concluded where: -
1. An employee approaches a Manager for consideration of a course;
2. A Manager suggests to an employee their participation in a course; or
3. The Municipality requires an employee to attend a course.
Such courses will be concluded under two different categories:
a) As a bursary in terms of the Bursary Agreement or,
b) As a loan to the student in terms of the Student Loan Policy.
Bursary & Study Loan Policy
Guidelines
The objective of this policy is to: -
- To encourage career development of employees through further education.
- Self-development activities are encouraged provided that they are along the lines regarded as beneficial to the Municipality by management.
- The Municipality would provide financial assistance to employees who wish to improve themselves through formal courses of study.
- Employees will qualify for one study loan or bursary per course of study. There will not be simultaneous bursary / study loan payments (employees will have to successfully complete a course before applying for new loan or bursary).
- To ensure that, as a rule, only SETA accredited Training Providers are to offer training.
Definition Of Bursary
A bursary is given to an employee when a specific course of study is considered by the Municipality to be beneficial to the employee's career development plan. Studies are fully paid for by the Municipality.
Principles - Bursary
- A bursary will only be granted after a development discussion between the employee and his/her Manager.
- The Municipal Manager must approve a bursary.
- A bursary can only be given for a qualification and institution considered by the Municipality as reputable.
- A bursary can only be given for a qualification considered by the Municipality to be applicable to both the Municipality?s business interests as well as the employee's development.
- The Municipality is in a financial position to be able to offer a bursary.
- Financial assistance will cover:
- Tuition fees.
- Registration fees.
- Examination fees. - A maximum of R 7000.00 per annum will be paid directly to the institution.
- An employee who has been granted a Bursary must sign an agreement with the Municipality stating that he/she will remain in the Municipality's employment for a period of one year after successful completion of the course provided the total cost does not exceed R7 000.00. If the cost exceeds R7 000.00 then the employee is to remain in employ for a period of 2 years.
- In the event the employee leaves the Municipality's employ before the expiry of the agreed period, the employee must pay back an amount in proportion to the unexpired remainder of the period. The employee must sign a bursary agreement.
- If a Bursar fails one or more courses, he/she will either:
i) Repeat the course at his/her own expense, or
ii) Refund the bursary to the Municipality if he/she is unable to complete the course, or
iii) Continue with the course at his/her own expense.
Study Leave For A Bursary
- The Municipality will grant the Bursar study leave for attendance or projects that must be complied with as part of the course.
- A total of two days per examination will be granted. One day will be for preparation and the second day will be for writing the examination.
Definition Of Study Loan
- A study loan is granted to an employee who wishes to further his/her studies in a field that may not be in line with their field of employment. A loan is given to the employee to pay for his/her studies and not where such studies, at the discretion of the Municipality, are considered not to be essential for the requirements of the employee's position, but where the Municipality is satisfied that both the employee and the Municipality will benefit from the employee undertaking the studies.
Principles - Study Loan
- Deductions will commence from the next pay period from the date of approval.
- The Municipality will assess each study loan application to see if it is in line with its business interests.
- The employee must register with a reputable and recognised institution. The Human Resources
- Department will assist in establishing the recognition and reputation of the institution.
- The employee will not receive any gratuity or payment for successfully completing the course.
- Employees will be expected to present admission letters and registration forms outlining courses and costs of the Diploma/Degree to be studied.
- The Municipality will make out a cheque in favour of the institution up to a maximum of R7000-00.
- The Municipality will consider granting an additional loan for the purchasing of books.
- An employee will sign a study loan contract with the Municipality.
- The loan will be repaid by the employee over a maximum period of 12 Months.
Leave For Study Loan Scheme:
- An employee who is not a Bursar and who studies part-time or by means of correspondence in a field applicable to the Municipality and who, as a result of his/her studies, is required to be absent from his/her place of work, shall apply for annual leave if the 10 days that are granted by the Municipality have been exhausted. A leave form requesting such vacation and special leave must be submitted to the HR department.
- The Municipality will grant employees two days for each examination written one day for preparation and the second for the actual examination sitting.
Progress Reports
A progress report shall be completed annually whereby the HR department in conjunction with the relevant department evaluates the progress of all Bursars.
According to the evaluation certain actions may be recommended including the following:
- The continuation of the bursary upon successful completion of the course requirements for the year
- The withdrawal of the bursary upon failure of a course
- The conversion of a study loan to a bursary upon successful completion of the course