South Africa
Education Accelerator
As technological disruption, demographic shifts and structural economic challenges reshape global labour markets, South Africa’s future economic growth and social cohesion rest on the strength of its human capital. Building a solid foundation of core skills and creating learning pathways that work for every learner are essential priorities to ensure talent is prepared for tomorrow’s economy. The Accelerator aligns national priorities with business engagement, mobilizes expertise and resources to advances these priorities:
Foundational Learning
At its core, the Accelerator focuses on foundational learning — literacy, numeracy and digital skills that form the bedrock of opportunity. Without strong foundations, inequality deepens and later investments yield diminishing returns. Strengthening these core competencies is essential to ensuring every learner can progress and participate meaningfully in the economy.
Multiple Learning Pathways
At the same time, South Africa must advance multiple learning pathways, particularly high-quality vocational and technical routes co-developed with industry. A more flexible, responsive system is essential to equip young people with relevant skills and support lifelong employability.
The Accelerator Co-Chairs:
Siviwe Gwarube
Minister of Basic Education of South Africa
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa
Chief Executive Officer, Naspers South Africa
Local Coordinator of the Accelerator:
Join our accelerator
We invite interested South African stakeholders and local businesses to join the Education Accelerator. As part of the Accelerator, you will work with other stakeholders to deliver collaboratively on the Action Plan . If you are interested in joining the South African Education Accelerator please contact us.
Accelerators Network
A World Economic Forum Initiative