Every time a school removes pure mathematics, a girl who could have been an engineer, scientist, or innovator is told: ‘This path is not for you’. Mathematics is more than a subject on the timetable. It is the entry ticket to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the very fields where South Africa struggles with skills shortages and where women remain underrepresented. When public schools, particularly those serving disadvantaged communities, quietly drop mathematics and offer only mathematical literacy,…

The government of Zimbabwe is calling on employers across sectors to prioritise the recruitment of people with disabilities, as part of its broader commitment to promoting equal opportunities and fostering social inclusion.  Zimbabwe urgently needs to bridge the employment gap for people with disabilities, according to Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo, as reported by ZBC News, a TV BRICS partner. “All ministries have received a directive to give preference to people with disabilities in recruitment. If…

A major disruption is unfolding in global white-collar employment. According to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs could vanish in the next five years due to advances in artificial intelligence. As detailed in Axios’ article “Behind the Curtain: A White-Collar Bloodbath”, this isn’t science fiction; it’s a forecast from one of the leading minds in the AI field. South Africa, already battling youth unemployment and graduate underemployment, is ill-prepared for this transformation. According to StatsSA,…

Nigeria has entered into a significant partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to equip young Nigerians with advanced digital skills, entrepreneurial training, and access to global innovation networks. This was reported by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a partner of TV BRICS. During a high-level visit to the UAE, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande met with representatives from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre to outline joint initiatives under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA). The partnership is set to foster innovation, increase…

Ethiopia is accelerating its efforts to build a skilled technical workforce through a growing partnership with China in vocational education. This is reported by Fana Media Corporation (FMC), a partner of TV BRICS. A key milestone is the launch of the “Chinese + Vocational Skills” programme at the Federal Technical and Vocational Training Institute (FTVTI) in Addis Ababa. This initiative combines international expertise with local priorities, aiming to equip Ethiopian youth with hands-on skills essential for industrial transformation and long-term…

BRICS countries are strengthening cooperation in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a key tool for sustainable socio-economic development. The Brazilian Ministry of Education hosted a meeting of the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance (BRICS TCA), which discussed expanding access to education, innovation, and training for skills in demand in the labour market. This is reported by the official website of the Brazilian Government. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Education, scientific…

BEIJING – An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on accelerating the building of China into a leading country in education will be published on Sunday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 11th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.  The article emphasizes that education serves as the cornerstone for building…

The Government of Zimbabwe has unveiled plans to accelerate digital transformation and inclusive education, according to a statement made by the country’s Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, during a press briefing. The senior official explained that the decision was based on the outcomes of the 14th Innovation Africa Summit, held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The event brought together African ministers, private sector leaders, and development partners to address educational challenges through public-private collaboration. This is reported…

Zimbabwe is set to train over 10,000 teachers and lecturers annually in artificial intelligence and digital literacy through a new partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as part of a broader strategy to advance industrialisation and digital transformation in the country. The initiative was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare. He confirmed that Zimbabwe will collaborate with digital education institutions from the UAE to expand access…

Dawie Roodt, an economist at the Efficient Group, has advocated that certain state universities in South Africa be closed and converted into colleges, claiming that they are not creating the “right skills” in comparison to private institutions. This concept stems from a worry about the skills mismatch in the South African employment market. However, the plan to close public institutions indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the varied functions within the post-secondary education and training system, and it risks jeopardising public…