The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF), launched the South Africa Education Accelerator, part of a global network of collaboration platforms driving innovation and systemic change in education at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town on 28 May 2026. The SA Education Accelerator launch, co-chaired by the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, and Ms Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO, Naspers SA, include strengthening foundational learning, particularly literacy, numeracy and digital skills to ensure that every learner is able to progress and participate meaningfully in the economy.
Minister Gwarube explained that “the future begins when a child learns to read, count, reason and dream. The answer lies in the first years of learning. The future does not begin when a young person enters the labour market. The SA Education Accelerator brings partners together around two connected streams of work: The first is foundational numeracy research, because early Mathematics begins our Mathematics, STEM and technical skills pipeline. The second is multiple learning pathways through Focus Schools, because strong foundations must lead somewhere real: into credible technical, vocational, digital, entrepreneurial and workplace-linked opportunities”.
She added that “the SA Education Accelerator is about building a coalition between business, government and society – one capable of preparing an African generation for work, citizenship and innovation. Foundational numeracy is not simply about numbers in the early grades. Early numeracy opens the first gate to the future economy. That is why this administration has placed foundational literacy and numeracy at the centre of reform: reading benchmarks in all official languages through the Funda Uphumelele National Survey; stronger teacher coaching, structured pedagogy, and Early Childhood Development, so that every child can thrive by five. The future is shaped by industry, labour markets, communities and families, demanding co-creation: evidence, alignment, investment behind what works, and priorities pursued with urgency and accountability”.
South Africa must become more intentional about building an education-to-employment ecosystem. Some learners will thrive academically, technically, vocationally, or as entrepreneurs and builders. What matters is that every pathway is credible, dignified, rigorous and connected to real opportunity. But every pathway begins with strong foundations. Foundations are not the opposite of future skills but make future skills possible through Mathematics achievement at scale.
In her address, Ms Mahanyele-Dabengwa said that “there is an old African proverb that says: “A tree is straightened while it is young. It is a simple saying, but it carries a profound truth, one that science, data, and the lived experience of millions of families confirm every single day. We are operating in an era where AI is reshaping what skills mean, and where the countries that will lead are those that build adaptive, curious, capable people, not just credentialed ones. South Africa has the demographic scale to be an exporter of talent to the world, not an importer of skills we should be producing ourselves. Let us work together. Hold each other accountable. Not to our intentions. To our outcomes. The talent South Africa needs is already here. Our task, together, is to make sure the system meets it”.
Programme Director, Dr Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of Sifiso Learning Group and Chairperson of the National Education Collaboration Trust, highlighted: “We set in motion a programme that will accelerate reforms in foundational learning and multiple pathways, aligning our national priorities with global momentum. The SA Accelerator is a commitment to systemic change, and to collaboration across government, business, and civil society”.
The WEF, represented by Ms Tanya Milberg and Mr Ostap Lutsyshyn, delivered two presentations focusing on Accelerating Talent Readiness for the New Economy, including global context and data; and the Education Accelerator Action Plan, covering both the accelerator module and the action plan. The first presentation focused on the global skills context and the power of the accelerator model to prepare learners for future opportunities, whilst the second, discussed the practical pillars that will shape South Africa’s journey.
Ms Kasthuri Soni, the CEO of Harambee, facilitated a panel discussion on Strengthening Education Systems for Future Skills Preparedness: Foundational Learning, Credible Pathways and Partnerships for Delivery. The panel members included: Minister Gwarube; Mr Buti Manamela, Minister of Higher Education and Training; Ms Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour; Mr Spencer Janari, Acting Chief Director, for Education and Related Departments, National Treasury; Dr Nic Spaull, Senior Programme Officer, Gates Foundation; and Mr Chido Munyati, Director for Africa, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum; and Ms Ashika Kirpal, Director of Transformation and Naspers Labs at Naspers.
In closing, Minister Gwarube and Ms Mahanyele-Dabengwa signed a pledge to accelerate progress in education: “Together, we commit to building an education system where every learner has the foundation to succeed, the confidence to progress and the pathways to flourish. The signing of the pledge is more than ceremonial. It is a visible commitment to the principles we have affirmed together — Quality Foundational Learning and Multiple Learning Pathways for every South African child. By placing our signatures on this pledge, we publicly declare that education reform is not the responsibility of a single institution but a shared national mission. The pledge embodies accountability, partnership, and resolve”.