'South Africa has graduates that cannot get jobs. Some have skills the economy doesn’t need'
Higher Education Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe is hosting a jobs and skills summit in partnership with the University of Johannesburg.
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Bongani Bingwa speaks to Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Dr Mimmy Martha. They discuss the Department's plans to ensure employment for graduates through skills and job training.
Listen below.
The bleak statistics speak for themselves.
If you're between 15 and 25 and live in South Africa, chances are you don't have a job.
Unemployment rates for that age group are sitting at just over 60%.
But South Africa faces a massive disconnect: while youth unemployment rates are sky-high, industries are struggling to find candidates with the skills they need.
Bridging this gap could be the key to unlocking economic growth and reducing unemployment, but are we equipping young people with the skills most in demand?
On Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Mimmy Gondwe will deliver the keynote address at the Skills and Jobs Summit at the Johannesburg Business School.
"My concern is that we are having these graduates... and some of them cannot secure employment, or some of them are being skilled in skills that are not demanded and needed by the economy."
- Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
"This summit is all about getting the PSET sector, academia, and business in one room and saying what skills are needed and demanded by the economy and how are we going to ensure that young people are absorbed into the economy either as employees or entrepreneurs."
- Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
Today is not the first time such a summit has been held, but what makes this one different, says Gondwe, is that it is being held under a Government of National Unity.
"... where you have different political parties that have a say around policy and the like..."
- Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
"The other difference is that, under the current administration, we only have three priorities. Under the previous administration, they had seven and these have been whittled down."
- Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
These priorities, says Gondwe, are:
- creating inclusive growth and creating jobs
- reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living
- building a capable and ethical developmental state
The summit will bring together players including policymakers, heads of TVET colleges (Technical Vocational Education and Training), organised business, and academia.
ALSO READ: Youth unemployment: Higher Education's Gondwe has high hopes for Skills and Jobs Summit
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