The subject can be considered a cornerstone of our business. Yes, it’s rehashed, but not without good reason. An article published in October by Accenture – a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company – frames the problem decisively and specifically.
Their domain in the article is business analytics, and the mismatch between jobs created and talent available. The reference is global, but does not include South Africa specifically. After outlining the issue of analytics jobs multi-nationally and in required detail, the article moves on to suggesting ways that businesses can start to solve this problem. I’d like to focus on a particular paragraph that is very relevant to our current ‘mismatch’ in the digital space, but also addresses a national issue: ‘Seek reforms in educational curriculums’. What they are suggesting is that companies can ‘work within their own countries to increase the number of graduates’. This can be done by improving English-language training as early as primary school, as well as raising awareness in late secondary school about the prospects of obtaining specific skills sets that would set them up for a job that is in high demand, but has a low competition.
By companies getting involved at this early stage, they could generate a substantial number of graduates that are skilled and qualified in the areas that are most needed, as well as positively contributing to South Africa’s education problem.