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Access to quality education, skills recipe for the future

SA is a resource rich country, and not because of its minerals, but rather because of its large pool of untapped potential talent.

According to recent midyear population estimates by Statis SA, 28.3% of the population is younger than 15 and 34.3%, is between the ages of 15 and 34 out of a total of 60.14m people. These are the leaders of tomorrow. Our future doctors, lawyers and teachers.

However, a significant portion of our youth is unlikely to realise these futures if we don't make quality education and skills development accessible to all. While the right to basic education is enshrined in the constitution, quality education continues to be a privilege only for those who can afford it. Institutions perceived to offer a higher quality of education are costly. And, with SA still holding one of the highest inequality rates in the world, those who can afford it make up a tiny fraction of our population.

Everyone wants to get into the best schools and universities for whichever career path they choose. But, because not everyone can afford the fees, not many young people are able to access the opportunity to do so. It is therefore vitally important that we invest as much as possible into education and ensure that investment is applied as equitably as possible.

This is important in today's context as both the work and economic environment face disruption every day. From the digital revolution to major shifts in the way we work and learn as a result of unprecedented and unforeseen disruptors such as the Covid19 pandemic, education needs to adapt to prepare students for a constantly changing world.

The private sector has an important part to play in expanding access to opportunities. Many big businesses have relationships with high quality educational institutions to gain access to a pipeline of talent which they can recruit, but often neglect institutions that aren't perceived as prestigious.

Businesses need to acknowledge there is a huge market of students out there they may not be reaching. Additionally, transformation in the workplace has meant that there is a substantial gap between what students learn and the practical skills needed in the workplace.

Several studies have revealed that many SA graduates lack many of the basic and critical skills needed. In 2019, SA was reported to have a skills mismatch of more than 50% with the lowest productivity in the labour market compared to 30 other countries.

Business leaders also need to make themselves available to young students and first time entrants in the workforce to provide mentorship, guidance on their career path, and training to succeed in their respective fields. We have a responsibility, beyond our own business, to our professions to ensure the next generation is properly trained, competent, and live up to the ethical standards required from them. Education is vitally important in helping us navigate the world and opening up new opportunities

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Access to quality education, skills recipe for the future
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Authors

Portrait ofSiphokazi Kayana
Siphokazi Kayana
Partner
Johannesburg
Portrait ofZaakir Mohamed
Zaakir Mohamed
Partner
Johannesburg