NSF recognises South Africa’s long history of worker education and the need for further education and training of workers for the benefit of the workplace, the economy and the developmental objectives of the country.

It is on this basis that NSF continues to fund education programmes spearheaded by trade unions and other worker-initiated training programmes because these play an important role in the further education and training of workers. 

Worker education and training initiatives are able to use the critical networks of individual organisations to educate members and other workers to suit specific needs in a manner that is also beneficial to the economy as a whole. South Africa has a long history of worker education and training that needs to be supported and expanded. Worker-initiated education and training can contribute to a workforce that is better able to understand the challenges faced by the economic sectors in which they operate. This would benefit the workplace, the economy and the developmental objectives of the country.

Worker federations, workers colleges and relevant worker research institutions are a key implementing partner in the development of worker leadership, whose role has been elevated by the urgent need to withstand the challenges posed by the country’s economic environment.

NSF-funded worker education initiatives targeted at skills development providers, federations and trade unions include: 

• training in labour related skills development programmes
• capacity building and advocacy work on labour related policies and procedures.

NSF-funded worker education initiatives targeted at worker education and training of workers and worker leaders, are mainly aimed to empower them to:

• develop educational practices that sustain the participatory and critical learning processes in the labour environment
• promote the values of open debate in workplaces, democracy and non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion or political affiliation
• promote competent and efficient trade union and community organisations.