KHAYA SITHOLE: Young people need more than a foot in the door to find work
The youth unemployment crisis is the single most acute reminder of the fact that our democracy is hamstrung. In the crisis we see the intersection of poor education outcomes, a stagnant economy and a social consensus that sees far too many unable to get a foot on the ladder to a better life. The three main elements that continue to plague the nation — poverty, unemployment and inequality — are more prevalent among the youth of SA than any other group. Core to the problem is the ongoing and widening articulation gap between skills development avenues — colleges and universities — and the world of work. Naturally for a country where far too few make it to higher education, the problem is even bigger for those who cannot access these skills development avenues. While in theory students should exit the basic education system with some degree of employability, albeit in sectors that are more vocational in nature, this is simply not happening. This leaves young people vulnerable to being ...
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