President Cyril Ramaphosa says last year’s improved matric results should encourage the basic education sector to redouble efforts to tackle the “extremely serious” problem of dropouts and youth unemployment.
Speaking at the 2023 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla, he said that many students who drop out of school before taking their matric exams made the theme of this year’s lekgotla, which focuses on equipping students with knowledge and skills for a changing world, become even more relevant.
“If we can give students more choice and better guidance, we should be able to reduce the dropout rate,” Ramaphosa said, noting how critical the three-stream model of education is. The model covers three paths: academic, vocational technical and occupational technical.
Ramaphosa said he was happy with the progress made in implementing the model in schools.
“I understand that various vocational technical majors have already been introduced in more than 550 schools, and a growing number of schools are testing the subjects in the occupational technical stream,” he said.
“These subjects include agriculture, maritime and nautical sciences, electrical, civil and mechanical technologies, among others.”
Ramaphosa believes that technical skills are what South Africa needs.
“These jobs can grow our economy and, more importantly, much-needed pathways to entrepreneurship can best be achieved by increasing student access to technical and vocational subjects,” he said.
Rodney Manyike, director of the Human Resources Development Council, said that 90% of employment opportunities require young people with vocational skills.
“The three-stream model addresses these challenges and supports the skills needs of the country and addresses youth unemployment,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the large number of unemployed youth was something no country could afford, “but it’s even worse if they’re not in education or training either.”
“If the economy isn’t creating enough jobs at scale to support the growing number of unemployed, we need to think outside the box.”
Albert Nsengiyumva, executive secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, said that the reshaping of technical and vocational skills development programs must meet the demands of the labor market.
“Ways to do this include integrating technology into programs and considering digitization and the fourth industrial revolution,” he said.
The Deaf Education Directors Association (DEPA) believes that through the three-stream approach, South African Sign Language will be brought to the fore.
“This will provide qualified deaf students with the opportunity to become financially independent, reducing the number of people surviving on social benefits, creating deaf people who benefit from and contribute to the country’s economy,” said DEPA National President Michelle Batchelo.
