As South Africa braces for the release of the 2025 matric results on 13 January, and the class of 2026 returns to school the following day, a familiar tension grips households across the country. For hundreds of thousands of young people, the question is no longer just how they performed — but what comes next.
For decades, the answer has seemed automatic: go to university.
But Kagiso Trust is urging South Africans to pause — and rethink that assumption entirely.
With nearly three out of every five young people aged 15 to 24 currently unemployed, the country is facing a stark disconnect between education and economic reality. According to Kagiso Trust CEO Mankodi Moitse, this moment demands an honest national conversation about what success really looks like — and which skills the economy actually needs.
“For too long, we’ve operated under the assumption that everyone should pursue a university degree,” Moitse says. “The result is unemployed graduates on one hand and critical skills shortages on the other.”
Degrees without jobs, jobs without skills
The mismatch is not anecdotal — it is systemic.
The Department of Higher Education and Training’s latest list of occupations in high demand reveals a troubling imbalance: more than half of South African workers are employed in jobs for which they do not have the correct education level, while a third are working in roles that do not align with their highest qualification.
At the same time, industries across the country are desperate for artisans, technicians, and technically skilled workers. In fact, a third of the occupations in high demand fall at NQF level 5 and below — just one level above matric — and many require hands-on, practical skills rather than academic theory.
“This mismatch between what we’re training people to do and what the economy actually needs is costing us dearly,” says Moitse. “It’s trapping young people in unemployment while businesses struggle to find the skills they need to grow.”
A quiet revolution in vocational training
Behind the scenes, however, South Africa’s technical and vocational education system is undergoing significant reform.
One of the most notable shifts has come from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), which has introduced new qualifications designed to prioritise practical competence. Instead of writing four separate theoretical exams at each level, students now complete integrated assessments that test theory and practical application at the same time.
Another fundamental change is that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will no longer offer courses that lack labour market demand.
“If we can develop enough qualifications that industry demands, we can guarantee a higher uptake of learners into industry,” QCTO CEO Vijayen Naidoo has explained.
In addition, students will only be required to meet the appropriate level of mathematics and science relevant to their chosen trade, rather than blanket academic requirements.
“We want to get people through from learning to earning as soon as possible,” Naidoo said.
Skills for a changing economy
Kagiso Trust is clear that vocational education is no longer limited to traditional trades alone.
As one of South Africa’s leading development agencies, the Trust has been actively supporting skills development for the digital economy alongside artisan training. In Limpopo’s Sekhukhune East Education District, Kagiso Trust has trained teachers in coding and robotics, established dedicated robotics laboratories, and equipped schools with ICT infrastructure.
The Trust has also supported the Department of Basic Education’s curriculum strengthening programme, which prioritises skills-based and project-based learning.
“Technical vocational education encompasses both traditional artisan skills and cutting-edge digital competencies,” says Moitse. “Whether you’re learning to weld or to code, you’re developing practical skills that lead directly to employment or entrepreneurship.”
A message to South Africa’s matrics
For learners awaiting their results — and for those just beginning their final school year — Moitse offers grounded, practical advice.
“Consider your strengths honestly,” she says. “Not everyone is suited to academic study, and that’s perfectly okay. Research your options thoroughly. Look at what skills are in demand.”
She adds that vocational pathways can often lead to better job prospects, higher earnings, and greater job security than many degree programmes.
“Technical and vocational education offers a direct pathway to meaningful employment,” Moitse says. “In a country facing an unemployment crisis, we cannot afford to ignore the skills economy.”
Building South Africa’s growth engine
Looking ahead, Kagiso Trust says it will continue to advocate for technical and vocational education throughout 2026, working to dismantle stigma, highlight success stories, and support reforms that align education more closely with economic needs.
“The skills economy is South Africa’s growth engine,” Moitse says. “It’s time we recognised that, invested in it, and guided our young people towards the opportunities that exist. This is the way to Ignite Human Capacity.”
About Kagiso Trust
Established in 1985 during South Africa’s transformative years, Kagiso Trust is one of the country’s leading development agencies. For four decades, the Trust has focused on creating a brighter future for South Africa’s most vulnerable communities by advancing equity and socio-economic inclusion.
Through its innovative, bottom-up approach, Kagiso Trust has implemented scalable and sustainable programmes across education, institutional capacity building, and socio-economic development.
In 2025, Kagiso Trust celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking a legacy of impactful interventions. With over R2 billion invested and more than 1,800 programmes implemented, the Trust continues to drive meaningful socio-economic transformation and ignite human capacity across South Africa.
For more information, visit www.kagiso.co.za.
