The Impact of Economic Challenges on South Africa's Grade 12 Learners and Future Employment

IOL News

16-07-2025

Dr Sheetal Bhoola is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Zululand, and the director at StellarMaths (Sunningdale).
Image: Supplied
We have approached the second schooling term and South Africa's grade 12 learners are now preparing for the final grade 12 exams.
The pressures today for most learners completing school are daunting considering the many challenges that lie ahead of a new school leaver in South Africa.
The recent export tariff of 30% imposed by Trump on all South African exports in The United States has detrimental impacts for our economy.
Wine, Macadamia nuts and our fresh produce contribute substantially to the global and national economy and an increased tariff margin means ultimately that Americans will look to purchase alternative imported products.
Any additional price increase deemed by South African business markets would be an addition to the existing 30% which will come into effect from August 1, 2025. The Summer Citrus Program from South Africa will most likely have a devastating impact on our economy.
The Program has ensured South Africa exports citrus during the summer months in The Northern Hemisphere because their production levels are low.
This program has also boosted the quantities and varieties of citrus products exported to the United States of America and Ceres Fruit Growers have had a central role in this program.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ultimately, every South African is impacted as the ripple effect is bound to develop. A slower growing economy will be the cause of greater socio-economic circumstances and pressures for the average South African.
Central to the anticipated economic turbulence is the aftereffects of a stagnating or shrinking economy which ultimately means fewer job opportunities for South Africans.
There will be less expenditure on infrastructure and development in South Africa will be minimal in the long-term.
We can expect sales of South African products to decrease in the US, and this revenue that has been accessible to South Africa will no longer be.
The question beckoning is how do we now compensate for this revenue and how do we manage the expected job losses that are parallel to a shrinking economy.
Grade 12 learners enter a world of employment in 2026 or aspire to attain university or Technikon entry and complete a qualification.
The formal economy is a sector where graduates have an opportunity to display their attributes that have been derived from their educational experiences. These attributes are not just limited to skills, but also attitudes, and worldviews which are relevant to global and national socio-economic functionalities and dysfunctionalities of the world.
The increased number of school leavers that now have a grade 12 and meet the entry requirements for a formal tertiary education outnumber the number of learners universities and FET colleges and Technikons can accommodate.
South Africa is in need of skills directly linked to the area of sciences, technology, engineering and mathematical focusses which can aid and facilitate the onset of technological innovation and development which is locally born.
At present we are paying high tariffs for the importation of technological devices, and all other related products. The dichotomy is overwhelming, because there is a dire need for younger generations in South Africa to be educated and spear ahead in development, but their university opportunities are minimal and there is a lack of internship opportunities available.
Technologically Innovative plants are also key to creating employment and would aid to keep up with the new fourth and fifth technological revolution and be able to skill out youth in this domain.
These developmental structures are yet to develop because of the lack of skills and hubs that exist in South Africa. South Africans often report that the impacts of a brain drain are detrimental, but with a shrinking economy this can only exacerbate.
The emigration of skilled professionals' impact public services and social development. Economically, there is a shrinking tax base, and less expertise within our educational and healthcare facilities.
Earlier generations could have invested their knowledge, expertise and skills into newly graduated grade 12 learners, which could enhance the continuity of teaching and learning in the scarce arenas of STEM subjects.
The loss of expertise in South Africa has long term impacts which hinder development holistically. The challenges still remain.
In a shrinking economy, how does one find employment and how does one attain a skill that is ardently required to sustain a livelihood in South Africa.
In a stagnating economy, professional South Africans are on the lookout for greener pastures globally rather than remaining in an economy that cannot afford good salaries and benefits or the technological support these specialists require to grow in their professions.
The government needs to address a means to generate a healthy growing economy and enable young school leavers to aspire to access educational and employment opportunities locally, skills and development can thrive and harvest for future generations and towards an economy that thrives.
*The opinions expressed in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.
DAILY NEWS