By Alec Hogg
In January, Cyril Ramaphosa was impressive when leading the SA delegation in Davos at the World Economic Forum. But as deputy to a discredited despot, he fought an uphill battle. This time it’s a very different proposition. Cyril is the president-on-waiting. So you can understand why I’m more excited than usual ahead of this annual trip to the Alps.
My personal hope is that Ramaphosa abandons the usual whistle-stop visit and invests a few extra days in Switzerland. Doing so might well uncover the solution to SA’s biggest challenge. Swiss youth unemployment is under 10%, among the lowest on earth. SA’s is over 50%.
The difference may well be because the Swiss system encourages teenagers to sign up for apprenticeships. Two thirds of high school students do so, spending up to four years learning on the job – seeing as much of company in workplaces as they do their classrooms. Part of the attraction is companies pay the youngsters a wage (starting at SFF680pm).
But another important factor is the youngsters can select apprenticeships in anything from cooking and social care through to the various kinds of engineering. And as the training is 45% funded by the private sector, vocations that get promoted are aligned with what the market wants – something that continues to evade even the best academic plans. Come on, Cyril. You’re going there anyway.
Comment from Biznews community member Louise
I believe you have hit the nail on the head.
In my youth apprenticeships was the norm. Why this disappeared from the workplace I could never understand. More importantly, parents have spoilt their offspring by giving them fancy phones. Cars, holidays. School leavers often have a car that Daddy gave them.
My argument over time has been: why must they go out and earn a living, when they have been getting it for free. When we grew up, money was scarce and pocket money was a luxury we only heard of and never received.
Apprenticeships were widely available. A dear friend of mine went into hairdressing, serving 3 years in apprenticeship. My husband served an apprenticeship in HVAC and then later on passed SAIRAC exam. Nursing was another field that was also very popular. Hands-on experience goes a very long way as you learn a new job with modern technology. I worked in the financial industry, worked my way up from clerk to accountant, without studying accounting. My working experience afforded me the position.
We can only hope that Mr Ramaposa does spend more time in Switzerland and return to SA with a positive solution to unemployment.
