Millions of young South Africans have matriculated from the school system, but many lack the necessary skills to enter the job market.
While South Africa’s matric pass rate reached a new record of 88% in 2025, South African students have continued to struggle in previous years.
This is due to limited space at universities and limited job opportunities. South Africa’s unemployment data shows that nearly half of young South Africans are unemployed.
Stats SA’s Q4 2025 stats showed that South Africa’s unemployment rate stood at 31.4%, while the youth unemployment rate was 43.8%. Unemployment is often seen as the nation’s largest struggle.
Many employers in South Africa are realising that matriculants and university graduates lack the necessary skills for employment.
South Africa faces a well-known shortage in STEM fields, with supply remaining limited despite heightened demand.
This is evident in the National List of Occupations in High Demand by the Department of Higher Education and Training, which identifies shortages in IT, engineering, healthcare, and education.
Soft skills, which include critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, are also underrepresented in the job market.
Wynand van Heerden, CEO of the South African homeschooling and tutoring company Edify, said a new approach to education could help address the skills gap.
“We are pretty much doing schooling the same way our grandfathers used to. It’s the only industry in the world that has not changed in the last hundred years,” said Van Heerden.
“We’re still doing the same mathematics, the same sciences that we did in 1940. We want to evolve. We are developing a programme to change that.”
Call for a new structure
The CEO called for an evolution and an alternative to traditional schooling that prepares learners for the real world.
Van Heerden is calling for an evolution and an alternative to traditional schooling that prepares learners for the real world with the practical, vital skills demanded by the current job market.
Edify has opened a new homeschool, Edify Academy, designed with children’s goals in mind and to help them prepare for real-world scenarios.
“This is a renewal of the schooling system and a renewal of the way that we see schooling,” said Van Heerden.
“We are making sure that when a child walks out the door, they are ready to compete in the real world and in the job market.”
Each child at Edify studies their chosen subjects, regardless of age or grade. For instance, a grade 7 student who is at a grade 9 level in mathematics will learn at the grade 9 level.
Students are encouraged to go beyond their grade level in their areas of strength and work in small groups for those where they need support.
Learners are also encouraged to discuss current political events and form their own opinions.
“So instead of only looking at history and speaking about the same historical events for the 17th time, the learners look at the present as well,” said Van Heerden.
“Then they can analyse the political situation and ask what differences and similarities there are, compared to history.”
While Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen by many as a way to cheat the education system, Edify encourages its use to help solve real-world problems.
“It is more of an expectation. We expect them to use AI in their projects, and we help them use AI faster and more efficiently,” said Gemay van Heerden, COO of Edify.
One example saw students complete a project on finances, including their career path, what it will cost, and using AI to produce a financial model.
