Opportunities for Youth’s Post

What does it mean to achieve quality education for all? I'll argue that it means that every child must have access to a qualified teacher. Over time, we've seen research reports that confirm the fact that teachers are the most important school-related factor affecting students' learning and behavioral outcomes. Currently, the world is in need of an additional 44 million teachers to achieve SDG 4 by 2030, and while this is a drop from the 69 million teachers stated in 2016 by UNESCO, you will agree that given six years to 2030, we have a very long way to go. This issue of teacher shortage is more detrimental in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where we need an additional 15 million teachers to educate 650 million young people. We cannot pride in our youthful potential if we are not investing in developing their capacity. I think it is counter-intuitive to raise optimism about the power of Africa if education is not fixed, particularly teacher shortage and all the elements surrounding it. The work we do at Schoolinka is truly aspirational, as we are driven by the passion to build a super global workforce out of Africa, by empowering the teachers. However, we can't do this alone - the challenge is enormous, and it's beyond one organization! Private innovative financing, increased government investments, multistakeholder collaborations, international cooperation, and enabling policies and social contracts need to be developed and implemented at scale for us to build a prosperous Africa, driven by intelligent and smart young people. As we keep doing the work, empowering one teacher at a time, and unlocking possibilities for many children, we will also keep advocating for more people to get involved, and position Africa towards greatness.

Just a quick note to share this excellent resource: USAID Strengthening the Capacity of Local Education Systems guidance. Released in April 2024, it's a well-written, rich resource that provides valuable insights to help us develop locally-led, contextually-fit solutions to education challenges in an equitable, decolonized, and systemic manner. Highly recommend giving it a read! Here is the link to a toolkit to help us apply the guidance. https://lnkd.in/gDTvMdvn

The best education systems aren't built by individuals. They're built through collaboration. At Get SACE, we applaud Minister Siviwe Gwarube's commitment to working with teacher unions. This is a significant and needed step forward for South Africa's education sector. The government and teacher unions must work together. They must fix the many problems in our education system. By working together, we can ensure that educators' voices are heard and their insights inform policy-making. This will create practical benefits for students and teachers. Minister Gwarube's inclusive strategy is a positive shift. It fosters a cooperative environment, essential for innovation and better teaching. This partnership aims to improve education. It will tackle issues like resource allocation, teacher workload, and student performance. Involving teacher unions in decisions empowers educators. It ensures their experiences shape education policies. This collaboration can build trust between the government and education stakeholders, leading to a more stable, effective education system. We hope this collaboration will benefit our schools and communities. Minister Gwarube's approach is promising. It could transform South Africa's education system to meet the needs of both educators and students. What new ideas might come from this partnership between the government and teacher unions? Let's discuss... Together, we can improve education in South Africa. -- Thanks for reading. If you found value, do consider following me and I will keep delivering!

A thought provoking conversation with Paul A. on ‘Rebuilding Africa’s Education System’. He emphasised the necessity for all citizens to understand and play an active role in developing our Education system. It cannot solely be left to country governments, but local authorities and communities should devise systems to ensure that educative initiatives are implemented and most importantly, maintained. Africa has certainly made measurable progress with increasing the number of students going to school, efforts to integrate technology in the classroom and more. HOWEVER, there is still much work required to meet SDG4 targets and in creating a robust system that is accessible for all. As a Continent, it is important that we take advantage of our demographic dividend. With a large youth population, countries should invest in Education. We need to adequately prepare and upskill students for the labour force & cultivate their potential! Everyone should be a Stakeholders in Education 📌📌 For the full conversation : https://lnkd.in/dmQYwCCR 🔗

My research publication on public-private partnerships (PPPS) in Somalia's higher education sector is available in the prestigious Innovative Higher Education journal. this paper delves into the critical internal factors influencing universities' readiness for effective PPP implementation. I believe this research will be helpful to policymakers, educators, and all those invested in Somalia's future and the development of a robust knowledge economy. thanks to my mentor and co-author Prof. Dr. Abd Rahman Ahmad. #Somalia #HigherEducation #KnowledgeEconomy #PublicPrivatePartnerships https://lnkd.in/d9ciTnF8

The United States government, represented by USAID, has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines’ Second Congressional Commission on Education. This strategic alliance aims to bolster the quality of education and learning outcomes across the nation. The agreement underscores a deepened collaboration, aligning closely with EDCOM II’s goals for educational assessment and reform recommendations. #IntlEd #internationaleducation #studyabroad #studyoverseas #intlednews #foreignstudents

For those that have missed the keynote address by South Africa's Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, during the release of 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results, the following infographic could be interesting. Firstly, congratulations to all those that have passed (including their parents as it feels we are doing school over again with our children...), those with well-deserved distinctions and those who are eligible for studies at higher education institutions. For those who didn’t make it, remember, failure shouldn't define you, but it can help shape you. You are capable of more than you know. Secondly, from a Social Performance / Social Impact perspective one need to analyse the matric data specific to the Province, Municipality or Ward that you are working in. The data is important to understand the progress made over the last three decades in education, but also the huge challenges that still remain from a socio-economic perspective. Remember, 9.6 million children receive a meal at school every day in this country, for the majority the only meal they will have that day. Let's celebrate today's great achievements, but start tomorrow to address the challenges!

Have you considered the costs associated with ensuring a quality education in South Africa❓ As a parent, one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is access to education. In an increasingly competitive world, a quality education ultimately gives your child the foundation they need to build a successful life. ✨ Financial planning and preparation are crucial with the costs associated with public and private schooling. It is increasingly important to invest early in your children’s education. 🎓 Contact us at info@morebo.co.za to add an educational policy to your portfolio. ⏳ #futurefinancialfitnesstoday #educationmatters #educationpolicy #education

Have you considered the costs associated with ensuring a quality education in South Africa❓ As a parent, one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is access to education. In an increasingly competitive world, a quality education ultimately gives your child the foundation they need to build a successful life. ✨ Financial planning and preparation are crucial with the costs associated with public and private schooling. It is increasingly important to invest early in your children’s education. 🎓 Contact us at info@morebo.co.za to add an educational policy to your portfolio. ⏳ #futurefinancialfitnesstoday #educationmatters #educationpolicy #education

Jurie Joubert, in an article released by Network 24 in South Africa on January 15, 2024, advocates for a paradigm shift in the way education is perceived in the country. Rather than mere improvement, he contends that a complete overhaul of the education system is essential. Joubert asserts that learners must be equipped to undertake roles that presently do not exist and adapt to technologies yet to be discovered. According to him, the conventional teaching methods employed in South Africa are antiquated and belong to a bygone era. He insists on fostering independent thinking among learners, enabling them to solve real-world problems collaboratively in groups, without being restricted by age. Regrettably, the current state of classrooms in South Africa starkly contrasts with these ideals. Public primary schools grapple with a teacher-learner ratio of 1 to 40, and high schools face a ratio of 1 to 35, which, in practice, often exceeds 1 to 50 and 1 to 40, respectively. Expecting teachers to work miracles under such conditions is not only unrealistic but also unfair. How can one instil values, encourage creativity, and nurture a questioning mind in an environment where the primary focus is survival rather than learning? The challenges faced by educators are immense. Acknowledging the admirable efforts of teachers in South Africa, who manage to inspire hope, vision, and excitement for learning, we call for a fundamental shift in the mindset of policymakers. The emphasis should not be solely on admission rates and artificial pass rates but on a comprehensive reimagining of the entire educational model. For Jurie's vision to materialize, policymakers must bear the responsibility of initiating change, not the teachers who are already performing miracles. In the current context, school leaders and governing bodies should step forward, take the lead, and embrace change without fear. The onus is on them to create an environment conducive to the transformative education that Jurie envisions, ensuring a brighter future for South Africa.