South Africa needs to produce 10 times more engineers to compete globally. But, in 2023, only 3% of matric students achieved a distinction in mathematics, and over 77% got less than 50%. These figures highlight a growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills gap, a challenge we must address to fuel economic growth and tackle the ongoing youth unemployment crisis. In this special Youth Month edition of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Prof. Kobus Maree, a leading educational psychologist and Setlogane Manchidi, Investec’s Head of Corporate Social Investment, on the catalytic power of maths and science for economic growth and employability.
Podcast key moments:
00:00 – Introduction
01:43 – What makes gateway subjects, maths and science, foundational for young people?
05:11 – What kinds of skills – beyond content knowledge – does success in maths and science cultivate in learners?
08:37 – What is the Promaths programme? And what is driving this investment for Investec?
11:07 – Does the matric pass rate reflect performance and participation in maths and science?
12:48 – How have Promaths students performed over the past 20 years?
15:07 – What is the connection between school-level success in maths and science and employability in high-growth industries?
19:31 – What are the key improvements we need to make in how we teach maths and science in our schools?
23:36 – What has Promaths taught you about equity and access?
27:08 – What message would you give to South Africa’s youth this Youth Month?