According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, 92 million current jobs could be displaced globally by 2030 due to the impact of automation, technological advancements and changing consumer behaviour.
As the world hurtles into an era shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), countries across the globe are in a race to cultivate a future-ready workforce. AI is redefining the skills needed to thrive in the workplace. At the heart of this transformation lie mathematics and science, foundational disciplines that fuel technological innovation and power the development of intelligent systems.
These subjects foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem-solving abilities and adaptability – skills essential for navigating and contributing to an AI-driven world.
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On this episode 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.
STEM: The engine of employability
Recent research confirms the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) labour force experiences lower average unemployment rates at all education levels compared to their non-STEM counterparts.
According to research from the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, countries with high STEM human capital are competitive, productive and experience high economic growth. One study found that a 1.1% increase in the STEM workforce share could lead to a 1.6% increase in GDP.
Maths and science skills are the keys that unlock endless career possibilities in any industry, which makes them more than just academic disciplines – they are the gateway skills needed to secure gainful employment and power economic growth and development.
Widening STEM skills gap
With the undeniable economic benefits of STEM proficiency, nations that fail to invest in nurturing these vital skills are at grave risk of being left behind. Alarmingly, South Africa is grappling with a rapidly widening STEM skills gap, resulting in a nationwide shortage of qualified professionals in critical sectors like finance, IT, engineering and manufacturing.
For example, according to the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), South Africa needs ten times the number of engineers to remain globally competitive.
This stat highlights the conundrum facing the country, where unemployment levels remain high – one of the highest globally – while high-paying STEM jobs go unfilled.
Worryingly, South Africa is falling behind other major developing nations. India, for example, is prioritising STEM skills development to drive economic growth and development within the corporate and startup sectors.
Initiatives like ‘Make in India’, ‘Startup India’ and ‘Digital India’ are propelling the nation to become one of the world’s largest STEM job markets. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 34% of all graduates in India emerged from STEM fields of study in 2021.
Education crisis
The local shortage stems from challenges in South Africa’s basic education system, which is failing to address the need to build a strong pipeline of STEM talent. A major issue is the dire state of maths and science literacy at a basic education level.
The 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) report laid bare the stark reality confronting the country. South African grade five learners ranked last among 59 countries measured for maths and science knowledge assessed at a grade four level.
South African high school learners fared slightly better, with learners ranked fifth from the bottom.
Identifying the challenges
“There are many educators who lack the necessary training and ongoing professional development to teach mathematics and science effectively,” explains Mabitsela.
Overcrowding in classrooms, insufficient contact time and a lack of adequate learning materials, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas, are other major challenges.
More worryingly, access to maths and science tuition is declining. In a recent parliamentary reply, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) revealed that a total of 464 public schools in South Africa no longer offer learners the option of studying mathematics, due either to a lack of sufficient resources or demand.
“The tragedy is that 77% of learners did not pass maths with 50% or more. Even fewer – almost 3% – got a distinction (80% or more) needed to ensure they get into a science, technology or engineering degree," laments Mabitsela.
These figures bode ill for the government’s National Development Plan (NDP) target, which aims to have 450,000 students eligible to study mathematics and science at universities by 2030.
20 years of impact with Promaths
Promaths is a pioneering private-public partnership that has been delivering real impact among South Africa’s underprivileged youth for over 20 years.
Launched in 2005 in Soweto, Promaths is a joint initiative between Investec and Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology, an education NGO committed to advancing high school STEM performance by providing extra tuition to high school learners.
What is Promaths? Watch here:
Kutlwanong identified a need to improve the quality of maths and science performance among South Africa’s youth 20 years ago, long before the digital and AI revolution made these skills so highly prized in the workplace.
“Confronting the deep-rooted structural deficiencies and bridging the education gaps due to a legacy of apartheid, requires unwavering dedication and time, which is why our centres operate during holidays and on weekends,” says Mabitsela.
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Scaling education solutions
As the son of a domestic worker, Setlogane Manchidi, Investec's head of CSI, says he understands the power of education to uplift people and enable them to change the situations for themselves, their families and their communities.
“There is no one better than a wounded healer, as your desire to do more is driven by your knowledge of what it’s like to be on the other side. As such, my desire to support Kutlwanong and launch the Promaths programme was to create an equaliser for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and allow them to compete on a more level playing field.”
While our company is one of many that yearns for more technical skills in the form of IT specialists, actuaries, accountants and analysts, our vision is to support initiatives that empower people to become active economic participants, not only to transform sectors but to also transform lives.
Promaths alumni reflect on the power of Promaths
Isaah Mhlanga, a Promaths alumnus who attended the University of Johannesburg to pursue a master's degree in financial economics, believes the secret to the success of the Promaths programme is a combination of factors. Mhlanga is now the Chief Economist at RMB.
“The programme is well-structured and follows the government curriculum. Students write examinations set by the government, so it’s not different from what other students experience. The teaching methodologies and the additional time spent on maths and science contribute to its success.”
He adds that the teacher training programme is crucial, because it equips teachers to deliver content effectively.
Multiplier effect
Manchidi says the real impact is what academic performance enables learners to do.
“Many Promaths graduates secure gainful employment or create businesses by becoming engineers, actuaries, doctors and economists. These individuals have the power to break down barriers and change legacies as they can support their extended families and communities, and give their children a better education,” he explains.
Mhlanga asserts that if it weren’t for Promaths, he wouldn’t be equipped for further studies in these fields.
“Without Promaths, my journey would have been very different. My family circumstances meant that no one could afford to pay for my studies. I needed to excel at maths and science to create opportunities to further my studies, and Promaths opened doors for scholarships and university access that I would not have had otherwise.”
“This multiplier effect is what we aim for,” continues Manchidi. “When corporates are deeply invested in purposeful CSI programmes that impact the youth in this way, Out of the Ordinary things happen. This is the essence of why we are involved with Promaths.”
More to achieve
“Achieving our mission would be impossible without Investec’s unwavering support. The association instils confidence and brand equity in the programme, as other companies we approach recognise that Investec would not invest in an initiative like this for 20 years unless it truly delivered results,” continues Mabitsela.
Manchidi highlights the need for additional initiatives to create an even greater equaliser effect for Promaths graduates.
“South Africa is home to incredible talent. Our learners are bright, resilient and hungry for a better tomorrow, yet our reach remains limited. With the right support, we can expand our impact beyond the 1% of matriculants we currently assist and strive for our ambitious target of 10%. However, we can only realise this dream with increased corporate involvement,” concludes Mabitsela.
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