By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Breaking the cycle of poverty and unemployment can only be achieved by redirecting matric learners’ mind-sets towards vocational training rather than just academic studies at universities.
This assertion was made by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga at a prayer service for matric students at Kgulathuto Secondary School on Sunday.
“Our young people are very important to us because it is through them that we can change the future of our country since it is only through education that the cycle of poverty can be broken. South Africa has a huge problem of post-schooling where Minister Nzimande is trying hard to have more community colleges, as there is not enough space in universities for all our learners,” Motshekga said.
She added that the South African education system is too academic compared to countries like Austria where only 20 percent of their learners go to university and 80 percent to vocational training centres. “In France 60 percent goes to vocational training and 40 percent to university. In South Africa almost 100 percent of our learners want to go to university.”
At the same occasion, Free State MEC of Basic Education Tate Makgoe said: “The mind-set of most South Africans is of looking for jobs instead of creating jobs. We are trying to correct that by introducing entrepreneurship at school level.”
Makgoe mentioned Ecubed – a programme of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) which focuses on entrepreneurship, employability and education that is trying to teach learners about working for themselves.
Maureen Tetsoane from Ori Events has started her own events company and she has given hospitality students from Maluti Tvet College an opportunity to work with her during this event.
“I am very happy to be here today because I am learning a lot and gaining experience. The theory I’ve learned is starting to make sense,” Xolani Makhubu a hospitality student from MalutiTvet college said.
“We are part of the global world, that is why our matric certificate has been benchmarked as a valuable certificate to obtain, and it allows our learners to go to both universities and TVET colleges well prepared,” Motshekga said.
