Tackling South Africa’s 45,5% youth unemployment: Strategies for change

As we traverse the midpoint of 2024, hundreds of thousands of South Africa’s youth face a challenging landscape marked by high school dropout rates and a staggering 45.5% youth unemployment rate. In this context, the new Minister of Basic Education’s focus on promising priorities to guide decision-making in the basic education portfolio is a welcome development, as early interventions are crucial for improving the overall education system.

For instance, a child starting grade one in 2024 would likely complete university around 2039, entering a job market with needs that differ significantly from today’s. So, education systems must evolve to meet these future demands. However, with the significant skills gap currently, particularly in the tech sector, there is an urgent need for a more collaborative approach to equipping the youth with the necessary capabilities and shaping the future workforce.

While government initiatives like the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and the National Skills Fund strive to enhance digital and technological skill development, the question remains: Is it enough? The emergence of alternative education methods like coding bootcamps, which promote immersive learning, is becoming crucial in bridging these gaps.

What is a bootcamp and why do they work?

A bootcamp’s intensive learning structure focuses on delivering practical, employment-ready skills quickly and affordably. A study by McKinsey underscores the rapidly evolving nature of tech skill demands, highlighting the necessity for flexible and adaptive learning methods such as bootcamps.

For example, the demand for MYSQL skills dropped from 10% in 2018 to 8% in 2022, illustrating how quickly certain skills can become outdated. Bootcamps, with their intense and focused training, effectively fill the gap left by traditional education systems, which often struggle to keep up with industry advancements. 

However, bootcamps are often met with scepticism and credibility concerns, hampering their broader acceptance. The truth is that these programs democratise widespread access to high-quality education, making them appealing to a diverse range of individuals. Several local students have already reaped significant rewards from the bootcamp model.

Prior to graduating from HyperionDev’s Web Developer bootcamp, Khomotso Tibane from Pretoria faced bleak employment prospects. He realised that learning and training could open new opportunities for him, so he enrolled in the Full Stack Web Development bootcamp. Here, he learned valuable skills that helped him transition to a role as a front-end developer at a leading currency specialist firm.  

For Johannesburg-based Cherol Phoshoko, a former physiology and biochemistry student, the Covid-19 lockdown proved to be a career-changing catalyst. Motivated by the promising prospects in technology, she enrolled in HyperionDev’s Software Engineer bootcamp during lockdown, which she completed online and part-time. With the agile development skills she acquired in tech stacks like Python and Javascript, Cherol quickly found a position as a junior developer and support specialist at a leading company that provides geospatial data and analytics solutions. She strongly encourages others to embrace tech careers, highlighting the personal growth and exciting opportunities of learning to code.

As evidenced by these individuals, alternative educational models like bootcamps redefine the learning landscape. Yet, they are not intended to replace tertiary learning but to offer a complementary, alternative learning approach. Universities could adopt a more proactive stance by integrating such skills-based training alongside a theoretical curriculum.

For institutions that cannot establish their own bootcamps, forming partnerships with private sector companies that specialise in these models could be highly beneficial. Such collaborations could provide a valuable and viable pathway for individuals seeking to enhance their employability as the demand for tech-savvy professionals grows. 

By Siphelele Kubheka, Head of Learnerships (SA), HyperionDev