Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela has called for the urgent development of a coherent education-to-work pipeline, stressing that South Africa must align early childhood development, schooling and post-school training to ensure the successful transition of youth into the economy.
Delivering the keynote address at the National Education Summit held this week at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Gauteng, Manamela said the country's biggest challenge is not only unemployment but a “pathway crisis” that deprives millions of young people of opportunities.
The minister warned that approximately 3.4 million young South Africans are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET), describing it as a “lived reality” that reflects systemic failures to link education to economic participation.
“Our crisis is not just unemployment (but) a crisis of pathways. A system that does not yet move youth from learning to earning, from capability to productivity… from aspiration to dignity.
“We must create a pipeline that is coherent from early childhood to schooling, post-school education and training and ultimately to the economy,” the minister said.
Manmela said education should not be seen as just a sector, but as a bridge between that waiting and economic citizenship.
The Minister identified early childhood development (ECD), entrepreneurship education and vocational training as critical pressure points that require immediate intervention.
He highlighted that the government has made progress in ECD through increased funding and expanded access, including the allocation of R18.4 billion in the medium term and 300,000 children gaining access to early education programmes.
However, Manamela warned that according to the findings of the Thrive by Five Index, only 42% of children are developmentally on track by the age of five.
“This means that inequality does not arise until later in life. It arises early in nutrition, stimulation, language development and access to quality early education,” he said.
Turning to entrepreneurship, Manmela said the education system must evolve from job seekers to job creators, especially in an economy that cannot absorb all the graduates.
He said all 50 public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges are now offering entrepreneurship programmes, with more than 47,000 students participating in 2024.
However, he stressed that success depends on practical demonstration, providing access to funding and markets, and building confidence through advice and support networks.
“Entrepreneurship will not thrive in an economy that is structurally closed. It is not only about changing the mindset of young people, but also about opening up the economy (and ensuring) that small enterprises can access financing, compete and grow,” the minister said.
Expansion of centers of expertise
On vocational education, the Minister highlighted the persistent skills gap, noting that while the economy requires about 30,000 artisans annually, the country is currently producing about 20,000 artisans.
He said the government is expanding the centers of expertise, which are central to the country's artisan strategy, enhancing training capacity, improving quality and aligning programs with economic demand.
The target includes 37,000 artisan registrations this year, qualifying 29,000 artisans annually within the next two years, and creating more than 200,000 work-based learning opportunities.
“Vocational education is not a second choice. It is the central pillar of our development. From fragmentation to a single system,” he said.
Manamela acknowledged that significant funds have been allocated to education, including support for over 700,000 students through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and daily feeding, delivery and delivery cases for approximately 10 million learners.
“Our challenge is not lack of programs but fragmentation,” he said. “This is a system problem, and it requires a system response.”
He called for stronger collaboration between government, industry, labor and civil society to create an integrated and responsive education system.
“When funding is delayed, when systems fail, (and) when young people are left uncertain, we are not just dealing with administrative issues (but) breaking a contract. That's why we are addressing these challenges head-on, with urgency and accountability.
“We have plans, resources and targets. To deliver, we all need to work together as a coordinated system – government, industry, labor and civil society,” Manmela said. – sanews.gov.za