Through its subsidiary, the CIE Thabiso Skills Institute, the Catholic Institute of Education supports 26 skills centres that provide practical jobs training to the poorest and most marginalised communities.

The skills centres are all registered, independent non-profit organisations, operating on Catholic Church properties in eight of South Africa’s provinces. Some are community learning centres, or satellites for Community Educating and Training (CET) colleges.

They provide skills training in a variety of occupations, in the form of programmes of around three months each, to youth and adults who are not employed or studying and training. Around 5 000 people benefit from the skills centres’ training each year, preparing them for opportunities in the formal and informal economies.

The skills centres offer occupational training programmes that include:

• Agriculture
• Household Appliance Repair and Maintenance
• Artisans (Bricklaying, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Sewing, Upholstery, Welding)
• Baking and Catering
• Beauty Care
• Cellphone Repair
• Computer Repair
• End-user Computing
• Home-based Care
• Motor Mechanics
• Nail Technician
• Merchandising
• Solar Panel Installation

Beneficiaries must first complete the CIE Thabiso Skills Institute’s Life Skills programme before starting occupational skills training. Surveys before and after this training show participants have more realistic views of future quality of life, a better understanding of themselves and others, and a better grasp of workplace requirements.

Using the institute’s community mapping tool, skills centres align their training programmes with market opportunities in the communities they serve – providing people with the right skills, and preparing them for workplace-based learning opportunities.