South Africa is a beautiful and wondrous country, but it isn’t a country without problems. Of these problems, three have been hot topics at the center of all discussions: load shedding, inequality, and education. While solving all three of these problems is paramount, solving education may be the key behind solving the other two and perhaps even shifting gears for the country.
The State of Education
Sadly, in a country where access to resources is inexorably linked to access to better education, barriers to access need to be dismantled to enable everyone, including the most vulnerable, to achieve their true potential. In 2020, Amnesty International released an article stating, “South Africa has one of the most unequal school systems in the world.” While this article is aimed at primary and secondary education, these inequalities are amplified in the tertiary education system.
Challenges in the Education System
While there are many problems with the South African education system, in this article, we will explore how eLearning can transform the landscape and be part of the solution. In South Africa, the vast majority of matriculating students do not pursue a tertiary education, preferring to enter the job market as unskilled employees and work up from there. This is not due to any lack of ambition but because their environments are simply not conducive to investing in them for 3 – 4 more years. Often matriculants have to support their families, and studying requires transport or relocation. The resources are simply not there, even for the most hard-willed.
The Financial Burden of Tertiary Education
In 2023, over a million students were enrolled in university — statistically, 50% of these students will not complete their studies. Tertiary studies are massive financial risks; tuition fees, transport, and opportunity costs all add up to put an ever-mounting pressure on students. While the dropout rate is high, tertiary education is still the preferred method for gaining skills that the working world needs. Access to tertiary education is very often a make-or-break for many students. We have funding being granted and failing – it’s a story we, as South Africans, know too well. NSFAS simply cannot keep up with the cost of a traditional university and we end up leaving students in the lurch – a system that exists to empower them. How far would that funding go if it were put towards making education accessible?
The Promise of eLearning
eLearning totally upends this legacy system; by providing learning material that’s highly accessible, learners can develop skills and knowledge at a pace, time, and location that best suits them. eLearning achieves this at a fraction of the cost of traditional education institutions, all without the administration and faff. While costs and ease of engagement are already compelling reasons, the truly groundbreaking feature of eLearning is the sheer volume of material that is now available. A new class of entrepreneur is emerging, where the skills required to start a business are being taught online and at the individual’s own time. The current model of tertiary education funding and course material simply cannot keep up with the financial constraints and modern business requirements.
Overcoming eLearning Challenges
eLearning isn’t without its challenges, though. Access to fast and reliable internet proves a challenge in South Africa, and there is still a preference for personal computers. Fortunately, the times are changing, with the ubiquitous rollout of LTE/5G and the massive penetration of smartphones/tablets; eLearning will have mechanisms to reach a truly vast audience in the coming years. It suits the modern learner, modern society, and the modern employer far more.
Innovations in eLearning
Our very own TalentLMS provides a free mobile app that allows for offline learning. While eLearning requires nothing more than a device connected to the internet, access to education has never been better, regardless of demographic, geography, or class. New Leaf Technologies has been in the eLearning business for over 10 years. Over the years, we have observed a precipitous increase in the use and effectiveness of eLearning. Companies are choosing to use eLearning to handle their onboarding, inductions, and training; and all this is happening virtually.
The Future of Education in South Africa
With corporates reaching out to efficiently train, inform, and empower their employees, and learners having access to a plethora of different training material to supplement their skills, eLearning isn’t just poised to transform the education system in South Africa, it’s filled the proverbial rocket with fuel. Good luck finding the limit!
