Beyond the degree: Unlocking post-school opportunities for South Africa's youth

As the South African matric results for the class of 2024 reveal an 87.3% pass rate—up from 82.9% in 2023—the spotlight turns to what happens next for these learners. While 47.8% earned a Bachelor’s pass, allowing them to apply to university, the reality is that over half of the matriculants cannot pursue this traditional path. Compounding this challenge is the severe shortage of university spaces in South Africa, with only 202,000 first-year spots available for over 337,000 qualifying applicants. The question arises: What options exist for those who don’t follow the university route or prefer alternatives?

At Injini, we believe that reimagining education pathways is essential to addressing the diverse needs of African youth and ensuring that they are prepared for the future of work. By championing innovative solutions in EdTech and skills development, we aim to shed light on additional opportunities available for young people across the country and the continent. 

TVET Colleges 

A recent News24 article notes, "337,158 matrics achieved admission to Bachelor studies—but there are only 200,000 first-year places available across all 26 public universities.” The same article notes that over 500,000 spots are available at TVET colleges nationwide. 

TVET Colleges specialise in vocational and occupational education and training, equipping students with the skills needed to excel in a specific trade. These colleges are available to learners as early as Grade 10 and into their tertiary education phase. There is a growing need for artisan trade skills in South Africa. Numerous articles and reports, including one by Independent Education, have quoted Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande, noting him saying that “South Africa needs at least 60 per cent of school leavers to pursue artisanal-type training, to meet the country’s demand for scarce skills.”

TVET Colleges offer several courses that equip students with artisan skills, giving them a better chance of gaining employment in a country where unemployment is a major concern. 

Youth training programmes 

Several organisations, institutions, and private businesses offer accelerator and training programmes for school leavers and youth in South Africa. 

These programmes, often delivered in person or sometimes virtually, focus on upskilling young people in much-needed life skills and/or entrepreneurship—both of which are important in South Africa. 

Those interested in these opportunities should look at organisations such as the Youth Employment Service (YES), the National Youth Development Agency, and businesses such as the Shoprite Group. It’s also worthwhile looking to local community organisations and NPOs such as RLabs, Chrysalis Academy, Siyabonga Africa, and Ikamva Youth. All these offer training programmes at various times of the year that support young people in skills development. 

Digital training programmes

There is a digital skills gap in South Africa and across Africa. Digital skills are essential for equipping young people for a future that will only demand more extraordinary digital skills. South African businesses are finding that there is a significant digital skills shortage in South Africa, with many looking to foreign workers to plug these gaps, according to an article by ITWeb. It is more important than ever for young people to upskill their digital skills, and several organisations offer training in this space. 

CapaCITI, for example, offers programmes that equip young people with the skills required to succeed in the digital world. Throughout the year, CapaCITI provides training programmes in various ICT-related sectors, such as DevOps, Java, and Data Analytics. 

Another organisation in this space is Naspers Labs. This social impact programme aims to reduce youth unemployment by offering digital skills training, pathways to technology careers, and support for tech-enabled, youth-led micro-businesses. Naspers Labs also provides training in entrepreneurship and community development. 

EdTech products 

Some options in the EdTech space allow for further education and training for matriculants and young people. Many of these EdTech products have a low barrier to entry and can be used anywhere at any time. 

Digify Africa, for example, provides youth-focused digital skills training tailored to industry and economic needs. From work-ready digital skills to specialised marketing and entrepreneurial programmes, they equip young people to thrive in the digital economy. Committed to bridging the digital divide, Digify Africa envisions a generation of African youth using digital tools to create and sustain livelihoods, addressing the challenge of youth unemployment.

Another option is Grow With Google, which offers several courses on building a career and growing a business. You can also look into options on Coursera and Open University, which offer free courses for continued learning.  

In South Africa’s complex post-school landscape, alternatives to traditional university education are not just a necessity but an opportunity to rethink how we prepare young people for a rapidly changing world. From vocational training and digital skills programmes to innovative EdTech solutions, these options equip learners with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce or create their own opportunities.