70% of SA youth struggle to find employment, notes Basic Education Minister

JOHANNESBURG - Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the country is facing a national crisis as seven out of 10 young people in the country are unable to find jobs

She says intervention needs to begin at the foundation phase as she leads a dialogue to develop a national policy to teach learners about entrepreneurship to mitigate the unemployment scourge.

The European Union (EU) has partnered with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to fund the education for employability programme.

In 2011, a task team was formed to strategise on how schools can provide learners with entrepreneurial skills to ensure that those unable to further their studies can create jobs.

In 2018, the Entrepreneurship, Education and Employability Initiative was launched in 73 schools and taught learners vital entrepreneurial skills.

Funders like the EU are joining the DBE and other government stakeholders to formulate a national policy that will ensure that the programme reaches all schools.

“Now, with the financial support that we are getting from the European Union, what we are saying is that we need to inculcate entrepreneurial skills in schools but not only skills for the world of work today, but also looking at artificial intelligence and looking for the world of work in the years to come,” said Gwarube.

This programme seeks to help grow the economy, alleviate poverty and get young people to work.