Education is the cornerstone of South Africa’s development, and the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) carries the mandate of equipping the nation’s teachers, trainers, and education professionals with the skills to meet the needs of the future. Investing the skills levy into targeted training initiatives, ETDP SETA directly supports the National Skills Development Plan 2030, with a focus on strengthening the pipeline of qualified teachers and education practitioners who can prepare learners for a fast-changing world of work.

Despite the crucial role of education, South Africa faces significant labour market challenges in this sector. The country has a shortage of teachers in critical subjects such as mathematics, science, and digital literacy. At the same time, thousands of unemployed education graduates struggle to find placements due to budgetary constraints and limited opportunities in the public system.

This raises the first major question, how can South Africa expand the pipeline of qualified teachers in scarce-skill subjects while also reducing youth unemployment among education graduates? Solutions may lie in creating public-private partnerships that open up more teaching posts, incentivising placements in rural and under-resourced schools, and scaling digital education platforms that allow graduates to participate in blended learning delivery.

A second challenge is the urgent need to upskill unemployed and underemployed adults. South Africa’s adult education and training programmes remain underfunded and under-utilised, leaving millions without access to the knowledge and skills required for meaningful work. This brings forward the second question, what innovative solutions could bridge the gap between underfunded adult education programmes and the urgent need to upskill unemployed and underemployed adults? Non-traditional learning channels, including digital literacy bootcamps, community learning hubs, and partnerships with NGOs, could be key in revitalising adult learning.

Budget cuts across higher education and training institutions are another pressing concern. Retrenchments threaten the retention of experienced professionals who are vital to skills transfer and curriculum delivery. This poses the third question, with budget cuts leading to retrenchments in higher education and training institutions, what strategies can be used to retain critical skills and redirect affected professionals into community and TVET education spaces? Redirecting displaced academics into technical colleges, community education centres, and new curriculum development initiatives could ensure skills are not lost to the system.

Major institutions such as the University of South Africa (UNISA), TVET colleges nationwide, and provincial education departments all reflect the complexities of this sector. While struggling with budget pressures and overcrowding, they also demonstrate the demand for innovative approaches to deliver quality education at scale.

Education is reshaping the economy, with strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and inclusive education pathways, South Africa can ensure that learning remains a driver of transformation and inclusive growth.