EDUCATION FOCUS BY JESSIE TAYLOR
SA Education SectorDriving digital & preparing youth for future workplaces
T
he world is increasingly becoming more connected and digitally-led – a fact that has been brought into sharp relief by the pandemic, which has seen almost all businesses developing their digital strategies to cope with remote working and new consumer behaviours. But to keep pace with this digital transformation, the workforce also needs to acquire new skills and competencies. This is why the education sector is moving to teach learners and students digital skills that will prepare them for future workplaces. A new digital perspective Minister of Higher Education and Technology Blade Nzimande has said that the pandemic has shown the education sector that it needs to support augmented
and remote learning. Not only has this allowed for basic and higher education to continue during various levels of lockdown regulations, but it has also seen the sector move towards embracing the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). He adds that the education sector needs to move towards preparing students and learners for emerging, new and innovative business models.
The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the digital divide in society
“At the core of it all – we need education – education and training that keeps pace with
42 | Public Sector Leaders | June 2021
the 4IR”, said Hon. Nzimande. Just some of the future jobs youths will take up include data analysts and scientists, AI and machine learning specialists, big data specialists, new technology specialists, and software and applications developers and analysts. “However, alongside robotics specialists and engineers you will find jobs like people and culture specialists, client information and customer service workers, and client information and customer service workers” - Minister Nzimande commented. “We have to fill the whole spectrum of the job market – we are not going to replace people with machines, we are going to make people better workers using innovative technologies.”
