NOW Ep102: Education for employability

Loading player...
South Africa needs to produce 10 times more engineers to compete globally. But, in 2023, only 3% of matric students achieved a distinction in mathematics, and over 77% got less than 50%. These figures highlight a growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills gap, a challenge we must address to fuel economic growth and tackle the ongoing youth unemployment crisis. In this special Youth Month edition of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Prof. Kobus Maree, a leading educational psychologist and Setlogane Manchidi, Investec’s Head of Corporate Social Investment, on the catalytic power of maths and science for economic growth and employability.

Podcast key moments:
00:00 – Introduction
01:43 - What makes gateway subjects, maths and science, foundational for young people?
05:11 - What kinds of skills – beyond content knowledge – does success in maths and science cultivate in learners?
08:37 – What is the Promaths programme? And what is driving this investment for Investec?
11:07 – Does matric pass rate reflect performance and participation in maths and science?
12:48 – How have Promaths students performed over the past 20-years?
15:07 – What is the connection between school-level success in maths and science and employability in high-growth industries?
19:31 - What are the key improvements we need to make in how we teach maths and science in our schools?
23:36 - What has Promaths taught you about equity and access?
27:08 - What message would you give to South Africa’s youth this Youth Month?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
11 Jun English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep 78: The return of Liberation Day?

Wednesday is the day when US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs are set to come into effect. There’s still some uncertainty about what will happen, says Chief Investment Strategist of Investec Wealth & Investment International Chris Holdsworth and even a further postponement of the tariffs is a possibility.
7 Jul 7 min

Wine in Focus Ep 4 | The changing face of the wine industry

In this fourth episode, we spotlight two women winemakers whose award winning wines and youthful leadership style are transforming the traditionally male-dominated industry. Praisy Dlamini, CEO and winemaker at Adama Wines and Kiara Scott, head wine maker at Hazendal Wine Estate are not just making exceptional wines—they’re laying the groundwork…
30 Jun 29 min

Everything Counts | Ep 25: Building a wealth mindset

Everything Counts is a bi-weekly podcast series that dives into money and financial wellness, hosted by 702’s Motheo Khoaripe. Each episode unpacks practical aspects of personal finance-how to save, spend, invest, and make smart decisions to boost your financial well-being. In this episode, Motheo sits down with Itumeleng Merafe, head…
1 Jul 31 min

Macro Monday Ep 77: What a weaker dollar means

The US dollar has weakened against most global currencies, but remains strong against most, on a purchasing power parity basis. Chief Investment Strategist of Investec Wealth & Investment International Chris Holdsworth argues that should the dollar weaken further, it could be good for emerging market equities and for commodities.
30 Jun 8 min

NOW Ep103: Tensions, tariffs and the fragile global economy

At the midpoint of 2025, the global economy stands at a precarious intersection of cooling inflation on one side, rising geopolitical tensions on the other. In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks with Investec Chief Economists Annabel Bishop (South Africa) and Phil Shaw (UK) about the shocks…
24 Jun 30 min