CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling on businesses to hire more young people and, where possible, scrap work experience requirements.
In his weekly newsletter on Monday, the President once again praised the 82.9% pass rate for 2023, calling it a great achievement.
On South Africa's 30th anniversary of democracy, Mr Ramaphosa said these entrance exam pass rates demonstrate progress in making education not only more accessible but also more equal.
Ramaphosa pointed out that the university acceptance rate for the Class of 2023 has set a new record, rising from 78% ten years ago to 80% in 2022.
Since achieving the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education in 2010, Prime Minister Ramaphosa said steady progress had been made to improve secondary education and post-school outcomes.
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Of the 110 top learners in last year's exams, 62 were social grant recipients and more than 200,000 were eligible for university admission.
Mr Ramaphosa is pleading for students who pass secondary school to be given the opportunity.
He is encouraging companies to take advantage of employee tax incentives to hire more young job seekers and offer more training and mentoring opportunities.
“As a government, we called on businesses to invest in this country's future by employing more young people and removing work experience requirements where possible,” the First National said. .
Prime Minister Ramaphosa is also calling on businesses to register with the Youth Employment Service and other government partnerships.
He said providing work and further study opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds would help eradicate poverty.
Mr Ramaphosa said it was up to society to provide access to decent work for young people to realize their true potential.
