SONA should address crisis in education system, unemployment: Economist

Economist Azar Jammine says President Cyril Ramaphosa should focus on addressing the crisis in the country’s education system in his State-of-the-Nation-Address on Thursday evening. Jammine says without a functioning education system, the economy cannot grow and ultimately jobs cannot be created.

South Africa’s unemployment rate currently stands at 30.8%. It is the highest jobless rate since quarterly data became available in 2008, with more people searching for work amid the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Jammine says, “Well, the government is not going to succeed in beating off the unemployment scourge unless it properly addresses the ravages of the education system, especially the public education system. One of the unfortunate aspects of the COVID-19 crisis is that it is exacerbating the inequalities of education. Children are still not going to school, why? Partly because unions have been pressing for schools to remain closed for as long as possible.”

Meanwhile,  President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as ANC president earlier said they will work tirelessly to end poverty, inequality and unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramaphosa said they are planning to hold an economic indaba to help deal with the impact of the coronavirus on South Africans.

In the video below, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledges that it is unfortunately the youth that will bear the brunt of being left jobless