Education & Training

Quick fixes are failing. Businesses invest in short courses and certificates. They expect transformation, yet return to the same problems months later. This cycle reveals a deeper issue. It points to a fundamental misunderstanding of what prepares leaders for complexity.

If you thought 2025 intensified the pressure to keep up with rapid technological, business and social change, 2026 will be tougher. This assessment reflects a broader reality facing professionals across sectors. Technological acceleration, social shifts and economic uncertainty now define the contemporary workplace. In this environment, lifelong learning is key to sustaining relevance and resilience.

For decades, “school readiness” has reassured South African parents. It acted as a checklist of letters, numbers and classroom behaviours, signalling that a child was prepared to enter Grade R. But as our understanding of early childhood development evolves, one thing has become clear: being merely “ready for school” is no longer enough.

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Stats SA shows South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 1.7% from Q1 of 2025. It now stands at 33.2% for Q2. This may not seem like a large jump, but it translates to 140,000 people. Even a slight rise in unemployment, therefore, has a real impact.

South Africa’s higher education system is entering one of its biggest shake-ups in recent memory. For the first time, private universities that meet stringent quality and governance standards could soon be recognised on par with public universities. This is according to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) new draft Policy for Recognition of South African Higher Education Institutional Types.

Every morning, as many South African children eat breakfast before school, I’m reminded how easy it is to take a simple meal for granted. Yet countless families cannot. For many children, a meal before class is a luxury they live without. Their empty stomachs echo through the classroom.

The next three months create a mad dash to financial year-end for many businesses. Either December or February deadlines now approach quickly. With just weeks to go, finance and HR heads face mounting pressure. They must ensure all skills development measures are in place to maximise B-BBEE scorecard points.

As traditional career paths shift and the demands of work evolve, the skills that matter most are also changing. This article explores how entrepreneurial thinking has moved beyond the start-up sector and become a defining advantage for professionals across every industry. I draw on academic research and practical experience to explain why this mindset, centred on initiative, adaptability and problem-solving, now forms a foundation for long-term career success.

In a landmark development for South Africa’s tertiary education landscape, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has officially gazetted the Policy for the Recognition of South African Higher Education Institutional Types (Government Gazette No. 53515, 17 October 2025).

Digital transformation in local government can dramatically improve service delivery, transparency and citizen engagement. This finding comes from research published earlier this year by Nelson Mandela University. The study, “Assessing the impact of digital technologies on service delivery in local government”, published in March 2025, concluded that digital initiatives enhance efficiency, improve citizen participation and increase transparency.