Five years ago, the IT Banking Learnership Programme (ITBLP) was registered with the Department of Labour, via BANKSETA (Banking Sector Education and Training Authority) as the first IT banking learnership in South Africa. This registration means that ITBLP students have a recognised and certified qualification. Plans are underway to rename the learnership, as the IT Business Learnership Programme (ITBLP). ITBLP provides the ICT, banking and insurance sectors with a structured and co-coordinated Programme to address the ICT skills shortage in our country. This Programme was developed nine years ago, initially as an internship programme. Sponsors and partners of ITBLP include the following organisations: BANKSETA; Business Connexion; Cornastone; GijimaAst; ISETT SETA; IBM, KSS Technologies; Liberty Life; Nedbank Ltd; Perago; South African Reserve Bank, Standard Bank and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). “ITBLP is the first major collaborative partnership involving three major sectors in the country – ICT, Banking and Insurance. We are proud to be part of this successful partnership” says Ntsundeni Madzunya, Executive Director and Chairman, KSS Technologies.  Since inception, ITBLP has trained over 400 students. Currently training 58 students, the ITBLP coursework covers life skills, business management principles, entrepreneurship; banking principles, end-user computing, application development, computer security and networking.   Students also receive monthly allowances for the duration of the course, and if vacant posts are available, employment is offered on successful completion of the course. “Since the inception of the Programme, over 95% of ITBLP graduates have been employed in the ICT and banking sectors”, says Jimmy Morakile, ITBLP Manager, and Group Transformation Manager at Business Connexion.  Adds Jimmy Morakile, “Over the past six years we (ITBLP) have spent in excess of R25 million, establishing, developing and maintaining this programme”. “On behalf of my colleagues in the ITBLP 2005/6 Class, I would like to thank my sponsor, and all the ITBLP sponsors for giving us a lifetime opportunity to acquire advanced IT skills that will enable us to become assets in our respective companies. We are very grateful for this opportunity.” (Balleng, B, ITBLP graduate, employed by Standard Bank).  For more press information, contact:Jimmy MorakileBusiness ConnexionTel: (011) 266 5217Fax: (011) 266 6276Email:jimmy.morakile@bcx.co.za