President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the introduction of technical and vocational subjects at schools around South Africa can go a long way in reducing unemployment and strengthening the economy.
Currently, 45,5% of individuals between the ages 15 and 34 years old are unemployed.
Basic Education Sector Lekgotla
Speaking at the 2023 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla, Ramaphosa commended the Department of Basic Education's (DBE) plan to introduce a three-stream system at schools around the country.
I am pleased to hear about the progress that we are making in institutionalising the three-stream model.
They said subjects that focus on Agriculture, Maritime and Nautical Science, Electrical, Civil and Mechanical Technologies must be offered at schools around the country.
This as individuals needed in these vocations are solely needed by the South African economy. The president said these subjects must be promoted and developed to tackle unemployment.
“The skills that our country needs, the jobs that can grow our economy, and importantly, the avenues for entrepreneurship that are so sorely needed, can best be achieved by increasing learner access to technical and vocational subjects” declared Ramaphosa.
The DBE’s three stream model will see the introduction of new school subjects grouped into an academic stream, vocational stream and an occupational stream. Many of these subjects have been introduced at schools.
“I understand that various Technical Vocational specialisations have already been introduced in more than 550 schools, and a growing number of schools are piloting the subjects in the Technical Occupational stream” added the president.
Ramaphosa said creative and innovative solutions must be developed if the country’s economy is not creating enough jobs.
