The Education + Graduates Summit (TEGS) has called for South Africa’s education system to place greater emphasis on equipping learners with practical skills needed to succeed in further studies, employment and entrepreneurship.
While hailing the Class of 2025 for completing their schooling journey and acknowledging the 88% national matric pass rate, the organisation said academic success must be matched by meaningful preparation for life beyond the classroom.
TEGS noted that matric results should not only be viewed as an achievement but as a reflection of how effectively the education system prepares young people to participate in the economy and society.
Founder of TEGS, Bogosi Motshegwa, said the country’s education challenges extend beyond pass rates and require a shift towards developing learners who are ready to navigate real-world opportunities.
“We need an education system that does more than move learners from one level to the next. The real measure of success should be whether young people leave school with the skills, thinking and confidence to work, study further or pursue entrepreneurship in a meaningful way,” Motshegwa said.
Motshegwa says they aim to bridge the gap between education outcomes and economic demands by bringing together stakeholders to address persistent challenges such as early-grade literacy, school dropouts, youth unemployment and the mismatch between graduate qualifications and labour market needs.
The organisation also stressed that strengthening the entire schooling journey is critical to ensuring learners are adequately prepared for post-school opportunities, including tertiary education, vocational training and business development.
“Together, these engagements aim to move stakeholders from shared challenges to insights and actionable solutions. TEGS invites participation from education and work-readiness stakeholders across government, the private sector, civil society, NGOs and the broader education community including learners, parents and school governing bodies.”
They also announced plans to host two stakeholder engagement platforms in 2026, starting with a workshop in April followed by the TEG Summit in September. The engagements aim to develop practical solutions and strengthen collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society organisations, NGOs, learners, parents and school governing bodies.
Saturday Star