By Thapelo Molefe
There needs to be a stronger collaboration between government and industry to ensure South Africa’s education system remains relevant in a rapidly changing world, according to Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela
“We are not just talking about education reform; we are talking about economic transformation—how we prepare our young people for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow,” Manamela told the 2025 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla on Friday.
Using a metaphor from MIT Professor Neri Oxman, Manamela likened the ideal education system to a clockwork mechanism in which science, engineering, design and artwork worked in harmony, just as education and industry must be seamlessly integrated.
However, he noted that South Africa still faced significant skill mismatches, with industry often lamenting a lack of skills while remaining too disconnected from curriculum development.
“The key question, then, is this how do we align education to function like this clockwork system, where knowledge flows seamlessly into industry and industry feeds back into education?” he asked.
To address this, Manamela outlined government priorities for industry-education collaboration. They are the expansion of work-based learning, investing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, digital access and teacher development.
Referencing research by global experts present at the event, including Prof. Andreas Schleicher and Tanya Milberg, Manamela emphasised the need for industries to take an active role in skills development.
“Industry must invest in workplace training rather than waiting for ready-made graduates. We must shift from passive hiring to active industry-led skills development because skills aren’t created in the hiring process, but in the learning process,” he urged.
He pointed to the success of the Centres of Specialisation in TVET colleges, which have trained over 5000 artisans with a 92% pass rate in collaboration with industry partners.
However, he stressed that more companies must engage with TVET institutions, not just as employers, but as co-creators of curricula and training programmes.
With AI and automation reshaping labour markets, Manamela highlighted the urgent need for early exposure to STEM subjects and digital education. He called on industry to invest in digital learning infrastructure, particularly in rural and township schools, and to support bursary and mentorship programmes in fields like data science and engineering.
“If industry wants a tech-savvy workforce, it must co-invest in building it from the ground up,” he asserted.
In response to concerns raised about the nation’s overemphasis on matric results, Manamela challenged industry and society at large to give greater recognition to TVET graduates and vocational pathways, which were crucial for building a skilled workforce.
The government was dealing with various challenges, including disparities in rural and urban education access, limited work-based learning opportunities and the rapid pace of technological change.
“The seventh administration within the Government of National Unity is committed to incentivising industry investment in education, especially in underprivileged communities,” Manamela assured, pointing to plans for expanded tax incentives for apprenticeships and teacher training.
Quoting Albert Einstein, he concluded with a vision for a dynamic education system that blended science, creativity and industry collaboration.
“This is the integration we need in education—where knowledge moves dynamically between disciplines, between industry and academia, between science and creativity. South Africa is ready to take this forward—but industry must step up.”
With this rallying call, Manamela reinforced the shared responsibility of government, industry and academia in ensuring that no young South African is left behind in the transition to a knowledge-driven economy.
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