Left to right: Minenhle Nzama, DCCI Youth in Business Forum Chairperson, Preeya Daya HR Business Forum, DCCI CEO Palesa Phili, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, DCCI SMME Business Forum Deputy Chairperson, Jacquie Bhana, DCCI CFO, Mike Raftery, DSTI Chief Director: Human Capital and Science Platform, Dr Sibusiso Manzini.
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, is rallying local business in supporting government efforts in promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools nationwide.
The Deputy Minister met with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC (DCCI) in Durban on 18 November to forge partnerships with industry to help promote mathematics and science subjects in schools, as well as to improve the science, technology and innovation (STI) infrastructure in the country such as science labs and innovation hubs in communities.
This meeting with organised business represented the first in a series of planned meetings with business chambers, seeking collaboration opportunities to promote STEM and innovation for social development, which has sharply declined in South Africa in the past 11 years. It follows the engagement Ms Gina had with her counterpart at the Department of Basic Education, Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, during which both ministries, as well as the Department of Higher Education and Training agreed to jointly mobilise industry partnership.
Monday's meeting with the DCCI CEO, Ms Palesa Phili, was also attended by experts in policy, business and education from both government and business.
"STEM education is at the heart of South Africa's future economic growth and competitiveness," said Deputy Minister Gina. "To unlock our potential as a nation, we need to ensure our learners, particularly in rural and township schools, have access to quality STEM education and resources. This is not a task government can tackle alone – we need business leaders to stand with us."
According to the latest Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Report, the 2022 National Senior Certificate pass rate for Mathematics was 55%, with only 37,2% of learners participating in the subject. Both the Minister and the CEO agreed that this underscored systemic challenges and called for targeted interventions to improve resources, teacher training, and student support.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the pressing need to address declining numbers in mathematics and science graduates, the widening skills gap, and inadequate infrastructure in STEM education.
"By working together, we can bolster teacher training, develop innovative learning tools, and create pathways for young South Africans to thrive in STEM fields," she said.
Ms Gina also emphasised the importance of aligning educational outcomes with industry needs. "Our industries are evolving rapidly, and our education system must evolve with them. Innovation hubs have strengthened research and development efforts, and closer collaboration between business and academia are critical to ensuring that our youth are equipped for the jobs of the future," she said.
She noted that the solutions to national challenges of unemployment, climate change and crime lay in the country's ability to innovate and harness technology.
"By leveraging partnerships across government, industry and academia, we can address these challenges while empowering communities," Ms Gina added.
Ms Phili welcomed the Deputy Minister's call for collaboration. "This is an important discussion for the future of our country. With the right communication and messaging, we can encourage widespread participation and establish ourselves as a leader in innovation and technology. We will immediately engage our member organisations."
The meeting laid the groundwork for a broader industry meeting due to take place in early 2025. It concluded with a shared commitment to maintain momentum and achieve meaningful progress. A technical team from the Department and the DCCI would be established to organise a larger meeting of business leaders to formalise the partnership.
"I am confident that by working together, we can achieve meaningful progress for our country," said Ms Phili.
