Unlocking key partnerships to make funding possible for students who need it most was the critical topic of conversation at the Fundi Round Table event held in Kyalami recently. With stakeholders from the public and private sector gathered to reflect on both what progress has been made and what progress is still needed, discussions raised important questions about the future of South Africa’s youth: What is the output we want to see? How can we balance vocational and academic content? What kind of education are we funding? And, ultimately, what futures are we funding?
Aptly titled “Building partnerships for education excellence”, the recent Fundi Round Table stakeholder event highlighted the continued impact on young people and their future outcomes given our unequal education system. It also provided stakeholders with the opportunity to share the successes that were being achieved to be multiplied and built on.
In her opening remarks, Mala Suriah, the CEO of Fundi explained that South Africa’s education system still leaves many young people behind: “While many of the statistics are sobering, they offer us a starting point from which to take action as a sector for the good of all. This is the intention of today’s event.”
Ms Landulile Dlamini, the MEC: Mpumalanga Department of Education, built on this thought-starter in her keynote address: “Only 38% of learners who started Grade 1 in 2011 passed matric in 2022[1]. This means that we’re losing far too many children along the way. Further down the road, we also then have a 45,5% unemployment rate among young individuals (aged 15 – 34 years) [2]. Imagine what it must be like for these young people – full of purpose, energy and enthusiasm, and nowhere positive to channel it.”
Landulile Dlamini, MEC Mpumalanga Department of Education. Image: Supplied.
She invited attendees to imagine what would change if the collective sector focus shifted beyond the “top ten students” to those who continue to struggle to access funding, quality resources, and career guidance: “If we don’t fix these barriers, our future as a country is at risk.”
Reflecting on her own personal story, the MEC noted that she couldn’t have advanced her career without an education loan: “My study loan from Fundi – Eduloan back in the day – helped me break barriers and achieve my dreams. Growing up in an under resourced farming community, I was clear on what I wanted my future to look like. My family were unable to assist financially however, and no traditional finance institution would help me. Sadly, my story remains as relevant as ever today. There are so many young people in our country who cannot access the affordable funding they need to unlock their potential,” she said.
Participants at the event expressed their support for changes to syllabi that will see the basic education system cater for academic as well as vocational and artisanal paths of study into the future. “Our current education system does not prepare all learners to be solution-makers in our modern world. Vocational skills are key to filling jobs in areas like technology, construction and healthcare. While coding and robotics have already been introduced in schools to meet future demands, these programmes must include expert teachers and real-world experiences – which are often hard to come by,” commented Suriah. “We must build a system where vocational training is as respected as academic learning,” Suriah said. “This will help close the skills gap and create much needed future-facing jobs for so many more young people. It will also move us away from the focus on the ‘top ten’ alone. Learners will start appreciating the value of diversified skill sets and real-world tools.”
Funding once again emerged a common theme through conversations, especially for those deserving learners trapped in the “missing middle” without access to affordable funding. “While public-private partnerships are going some way to assist these learners, we’re helping a fraction only,” said Suriah. “As Fundi, we’re committed to partnerships that give young people the tools they need to succeed well into the future. Our holistic approach to ‘all things education’ speaks to our vision of the future for all young South Africans. Finding new funding solutions for the ‘missing middle’ remains one of our top priorities. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind.”
[1] https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/matric-results-class-of-2022-in-numbers-20230120
[2] https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=17266