Tag: SkillsDevelopment

South Africa’s education system stands at a crossroads. With more than 24,850 schools serving millions of learners, the scale of the sector is undeniable. However, beneath these numbers lies a persistent struggle. High dropout rates continue to rise. Learning deficits remain severe. Deep inequalities still shape the nation’s future and define the education landscape.

The shift towards net-zero is no longer a distant aspiration. Instead, it has become an urgent reality. Rising global temperatures now intensify extreme weather events. As a result, accelerating the net-zero journey has become critical. For South Africa, the world’s 11th highest emitter of greenhouse gases, the transition is complex.

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.

Nigeria and other parts of West Africa are grappling with a critical shortage of skilled professionals in the power sector. The shortage is particularly severe in technical roles that organisations need to design, implement and maintain power quality and assurance solutions. This trend poses a major challenge for powering Nigeria’s future.

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.

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.