The City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services (LIS) Department has collaborated with Google SA to provide free online-training in digital and entrepreneurial skills programmes in 12 of its eLearning Classrooms situated in libraries across the City.
The Member of Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba states, “The department greatly embraces this opportunity as it will be a game changer to the narrative of how the communities acknowledge the changing role of libraries in modern societies across the globe. As a City, we welcome the collaboration as it will improve skills in our youth, particularly youth from the previously forgotten communities.”
According to Statistics SA, the City of Johannesburg has a population of around 4.9 million people. The growing concern, however, has been its ability to create a sustainable future for its citizens. The City currently has a 25% unemployment rate, of which 31.4% is youth between the ages of 16 and 35.
“In order for the City to tackle the evil twins of unemployment and poverty, the City needs to implement programmes that target the youth to ensure that they are equipped with tools that are relevant for today’s society. This will go a long way in contributing towards the priority of growing the economy of the City to 5% by 2021 as proclaimed by the current administration”, stated Sifumba.
The courses’ content will be accessed by registering “for free” to be a student at the centres via an e-learning portal: “COJ-ELEARNING” – or online via www.cojelearning.org.za (where students can access the content beyond library operational hours).
The programmes will be self-paced, done in groups or individually with the support of trained facilitators in the eClassroom facilities.
For every course completed, Google will issue endorsed certificates that can be added to the students’ qualifications or courses completed.
The 12 e-Learning Classrooms that will be used are spread throughout the City, and are in the following libraries:
Region A: Diepsloot Library & Ivory Park;
Region B: Westbury Library;
Region C: Cosmo City Library;
Region D: Jabavu Library and Emdeni Library;
Region E: Sandton Library; Alexandra 8th Ave Library;
Region F: Johannesburg City Library;
Region G: Poortjie Library, Eldorado Library, and Orange Farm Library.
The eLearning portal will also be available to all City of Johannesburg staff.
The media launch for the programme will be held as follows:
Date: 01 August 2018
Time: 10:00
Venue: Cosmo City Library
There will be an opportunity for photographs and interviews.
For more information about the program, please contact:
Jeff Nyoka, eLearning Manager
Cell: 0764456269
Tel: 0112260909
Email: jeffny@joburg.org.za
