Objectives of the School:

* To provide training in PC engineering, network installation & administration and software development to unemployed graduates and unemployed matriculants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.

* To create opportunities for Dipalo School trainees to acquire practical work experience in order to enhance their prospects of employment as IT professionals.

Registration under Section 21 of the Companies and Non-Profit Organisation Acts The school is established on premises in Soweto and is registered as a non-profit making Section 21 company (registration number 2002/017123/08). The school is also registered with the Department of Social Development in terms of the Non-Profit Organisation Act No 71 of 1997 (registration number 025-659-NPO).

Information & communication technology training

Dipalo School offers vocationally oriented hands-on training across the entire spectrum of information and data communication technologies.

Emphasis is on hands-on training that simulates actual work experience. Hence the training is workshop oriented rather than in a conventional classroom.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT) training is targeted at unemployed IT graduates of tertiary education institutions who are unable to secure permanent work in the IT Industry because they lack the experience that is often a requirement for obtaining employment. Tackling the experience barrier is Dipalo School's mission.

Unemployed graduates in other disciplines are also accepted for this training with a view to re-skilling them to prepare them to pursue professional careers in IT.

The courses offered include theoretical and practical work and are designed to provide trainees with a solid foundation of knowledge and experience as a jumpstart to prepare themselves for eventually sitting examinations at properly accredited centres for a variety of qualifications including A+, N+ and the Cambridge Diploma in Computing.

A vital part of this professional IT training is exposure to IT infrastructure support and project work, and Dipalo facilitates this by involving students, up to their levels of competence, on IT infrastructure project work that it secures.

In this regard Dipalo urgently seeks opportunities from the Public Sector and Corporations to supply IT infrastructure services work on a commercial basis to support these training activities.

Admission criteria

Criteria for admission include:

* A successful education up to high school or university or technikon;

* An intelligent outlook and a strong will to succeed in a highly competitive job market;

* A successful in depth interview to determine attitude, aptitude and career interests.

Computer literacy training:

* Computer literacy training is targeted at the following groups;

* Unemployed university graduates with degrees that do not include computer literacy but who require this skill to prepare themselves for the job market;

* Unemployed matriculants and children still at school are offered a basic competency in computer literacy. In the event that unemployed matriculants show particular aptitude for technical training they may also progress to training in PC Engineering and PC Networking with Dipalo.

* Unemployed adults in the Soweto community (on the understanding that PC literacy of its own may not secure them a job).

The computer literacy training course provides basic career skills in Information and Communications Technology. It is suitable for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, particularly persons who are preparing to use ICT in the workplace. The course covers specific applications, such as spreadsheets, databases, graphics, web design or a more general program. Completion of the course at any level provides evidence of a certain level of Microsoft Office software competence for a potential employer.

Free training

All the training provided by Dipalo is without a fee charged to the trainees. Community Service by Technical Trainees

Our technical trainees who are undergoing training in PC Engineering, PC Networking and Software Development volunteer their services to provide the training in PC literacy to unemployed adults and school children.