The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) in partnership with Youth Managers Foundation (YMF) held their 2^nd annual Free State Youth Leadership Summit themed: ‘Empowering the African Child’.

The foundation focuses on developing young change-driven leaders from high school level. The youth leaders undertake the responsibility of addressing social ills threatening to cripple their schools and personal lives.

A panel of industry and young leaders engaged in thought-provoking discussions and unpacked burning issues on topics such as the formalisation of grade 9 as a second exit point of schooling and how this decision will impact the quality of education in South Africa and the ruling against smacking or spanking of children in South Africa.

From the debates, it was clear that the motion of grade 9 becoming a second exit point is good on paper as it will open up more skills development and vocational learning, but the question arose as to whether the country is economically ready to receive such learners, looking at the current high unemployment rate of capable and qualified graduates.

Mr Mabutho Mthembu, Executive Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of YMF said that government is not promoting learners to exit school at grade 9, but rather, paving a way for those who are not academically gifted. “The grade 9 exit is meant for those who are not academically apt irrespective of how hard they push themselves therefore, the government is stepping in to say instead of frustrating and putting pressure on them, they can instead exit at grade 9 and explore other opportunities such as vocational learning.”

Dr Logan Munsamy, Lecturer in Government Management at CUT said that the education system must play a greater role in building an inclusive society by providing equal opportunities and helping all South Africans to realise their full potential, in particular, those that are disadvantaged. “We are living in a free South Africa and learners should not be punished when they do not understand.  Skills development is needed especially in understanding the role of education in a democratic South Africa such as understanding the two exit levels. Inequality defined by race, gender, geographic location, class and language hardens society and imprisons learners by the circumstances of their birth.”

In conclusion, he said that the partnership between the CUT and YMF must be an equal partnership which will support the Youth Management Foundation in all its endeavours.

Caption

 From left is Mr Mabutho Mthembu, chairing the discussions, Ms Nthabiseng Mdwekesha, Ms Mosa Thakalekwala, Ms Tshegofatso Mojanaga, Ms Bosisiwe Skele, Mr Siphe Zenani, Mr Sonwabile Dwaba, Mr Giel de Villiers and Ms Maraka Lefera engaging in a thought-provoking discussion on the current topics affecting high school learners.