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.
Chapters
  • 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?
11 Jun 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Everything Counts | Episode 39: Young professionals and the debt trap

Drowning in credit offers the moment you land your first paycheck? You’re not imagining it, from store cards to buy-now-pay-later, young professionals are being pulled into debt faster than they can say “credit approved". In this episode of Everything Counts, host Motheo Khoaripe sits down with Investec’s Keshnie July, Lending…
12 Jan 22 min

Macro Monday Ep 100: A year when valuations mattered

In the first episode of Macro Monday for 2026, our Chief Investment Strategist Chris Holdsworth looks at market performance over the last year. While US equities added 18% in 2025, it lagged behind global equities (up 23%) and an array of countries, including South Africa. One of the top-performing currencies…
12 Jan 10 min

Art in Focus Series 2 | Ep 1: The business of art

Listen to Frank Kilbourn of Strauss & Co. and Ashleigh McLean of Whatiftheworld Gallery on how galleries and auction houses navigate market cycles, build sustainable artist careers, and assign value in a constantly shifting art ecosystem. They also share invaluable insider-insights on upcoming artists to watch. Key moments: 00:00 Introduction…
4 Jan 34 min

Everything Counts | Episode 38: Financial Lessons from 2025

As the year wraps up, it's the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and refocus. From building a resilient wealth mindset to navigating digital risks, future-proofing your estate plans, rethinking retirement, and making smarter energy choices — this year’s conversations have reshaped how we think about money, security, and long-term wellbeing…
29 Dec 2025 29 min

What next? | Rewiring finance for a better future

Group Chairman of Standard Chartered, José Viñals, Sarah Kemmitt, former lead of the UN Net Zero Banking Alliance and Dr. Nina Seeger, Director of CISL Centre for Sustainable Finance discuss how finance can accelerate sustainable development more effectively. From addressing the mispricing of climate and nature risk, to correcting market…
18 Dec 2025 48 min