Floyd Shivambu has taken direct aim at South Africa’s struggling education system, calling it a crisis that churns out matriculants with certificates but no practical skills.
According to Shivambu, learners are being pushed through the system without being equipped for real-life challenges or job readiness. “We’re producing young people who can’t build, grow, or create anything tangible,” he said, adding that this educational model leaves the majority unemployable and disempowered.
He argues that by the time learners finish school, they should have concrete skills like bricklaying, agriculture, or technical trades — not just theoretical knowledge.
Shivambu says his new political party, Mayibuye iAfrika, is committed to overhauling the curriculum to include hands-on, community-based training. The goal? A generation of youth who can build homes, feed communities, and power the economy — with or without a university degree.
As the country continues to battle youth unemployment and inequality, Shivambu’s vision is resonating with those who feel left behind by a one-size-fits-all education system. Whether Mayibuye iAfrika can deliver on this bold promise remains to be seen — but the challenge has been thrown down.
