South Africa’s Deputy President David Mabuza says that drastic measures must be introduced in the country’s education sector for progress to be made. This is against the backdrop of an alarming youth unemployment rate.
The country’s economy is marred by slow growth and a high cost of living. The unemployment rate currently stands at 33,9% with at least 35% of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years old classified as jobless.
Mabuza believes drastic measures must be introduced to tackle the challenges faced by the country and the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The deputy president was delivering opening remarks at the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) meeting held in Sedibeng TVET College on Thursday.
They said, “Our ability to reverse the rising level of unemployment and poverty depends on our progress in delivering training and skill development programs that will address the challenges of the moment apart from this in the schooling and training system.”
If we are to win the war against poverty we must find ways to keep our children in school.
“We need to put measures in place to ensure that those who have lost employment and learning opportunities are able to bounce back through a package of skills and development and interventions that will create viable options in their lives," concluded Mabuza.
Mabuza said South Africa's high unemployment rate is unsustainable and the only way South Africa can transform its society is through education. This will only be achieved through collaboration by all sectors in the education sector including TVET colleges.
