Current Affairs: Youth Unemployment and The Educational Context.

 Now, turning to the situation of youth unemployment in South Africa, it is important to comprehend its underlying causes, and education is undoubtedly one of them. The word "education" here serves as a catch-all. It can indicate a deficiency in it or that you choose an unsuitable educational route. Graduates are among the unemployed young people in South Africa. The adage "education is the key to success" has lost some of its meaning since most graduates contribute to the jobless rate and accumulate student debt. Here is a little film of recent graduates discussing their feelings regarding unemployment.

Youth unemployment in South Africa is a severe issue, with rates as high as 32,7% in the fourth quarter of 2022. (Stats SA, 2023). The major reasons for this problem are a shortage of employment possibilities and a discrepancy between young people's skill sets and what companies are looking for in candidates. As a result, South African youth struggle to make ends meet and deal with a variety of social and economic issues. Government, public society, and the private sector must all work together to address this situation. This entails making investments in education and training and fostering entrepreneurship.

The importance of vocational education in SA to mitigate youth unemployment.

With the implementation of the 4IR, South Africa is experiencing a severe skills deficit, hence it is critical that TVET education be enhanced so that students are prepared to deal with the "new normal." According to UNESCO, vocational education is education that is intended to help students learn the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by a particular trade, class of trades, or occupation. Work-based learning may be a component of vocational education (e.g. apprenticeships). Successful completion of such programs results in vocational credentials recognized by the appropriate national authorities and/or the labor market as occupationally-oriented. In terms of vocational education, on-the-job training, and employability, Switzerland is a global leader, and its VET model is regarded as the "gold standard" in contrast to other systems of vocational education and training.