• Universal access to basic education. As a result, The SAYouth.mobi platform links young people to existing
the youth literacy rate is above 95%, each year more students jobs and education opportunities, with over 4.5 million
pass with matric, bachelor passes are increasing, especially young people already registered. We launched provincial
in poorer schools and curriculum reform is in progress programmes to create jobs and provide community services
to offer more vocational and technical subjects at school. such as the Nasi Ispani programme led by the ANC Gauteng
Learners from poor households receive support in the form government.
of no-fee schools, school nutrition and scholar transport.
While fewer learners are dropping out before reaching • Municipalities have also been prioritising young people
matric, far too many children still do not complete school. in their programmes, through skills development, as well as
expanded public works and community works programmes.
• Massive growth of post school education and
• Improved entry into employment. The requirement
training. By 2021, over 2 million young people a year
participated in universities, TVET and community colleges of experience for entry level jobs in the public sector has
and SETA programmes. However, South Africa’s overall been scrapped. Business has been encouraged to do the
participation of young people in tertiary education is lower same.
than the norm for middle income countries, and is racially
skewed. However, youth unemployment remains a crisis, with 1.2
million young people each year joining the labour market.
Around 3.4 million young people are not in employment,
• Rapid expansion in public and social
education or training, and 4.9 million people between 18-35
employment. years who are unemployed.
To address youth unemployment, set up the Presidential
Substance abuse is a major challenge in communities, with
Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and the Presidential
increased use of alcohol, painkillers, dagga and illegal drugs
Employment Stimulus (PES), which has created 1.8 million
like heroine, tik, cocaine and nyaope. Substance abuse
jobs and livelihood opportunities and supported thousands
contributes to violence, risky behaviour, reckless sexual activity,
of young people into self-employment and enterprise activity.
poor academic performance and crime.
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