What do SA Political Parties say about Education Technology and Digital Economy in their 2024 Election Manifestos?
On the 29th of May 2024, the world’s most unequal nation, South Africa, will be voting, marking 30 years of democracy. Currently, the education system continues to produce unemployable graduates and the economy is struggling to grow beyond 1%.
The digital economy with an estimated value of $16trn is shifting the skills and talents needed to lead a successful life and foster personal well-being. Education technology (EdTech) solves the employability gap and enables the workforce to be industry and future ready.
As a company which is passionate about both EdTech and the digital economy, saw a need to do a quick desktop research on what the political parties’ manifestos say about the two topics. As per the National Compensatory Sample Final List ‐ not per ballot draw, 52 political parties appear on the list. Only 11 out 52 mention EdTech and/or the digital economy. Below are the highlights of the findings:
- ACDP: Encourage students to study science, mathematics and computer coding in addition to the existing Information Technology (IT) subject.
- AZAPO: Will mainstream Science, Technology and Innovation in its national development agenda and provide technology support for SMMEs crucial for generating creativity, innovation and for commercialising scientific discoveries.
- Al Jama-Ah: Promotes access to technological resources that are useful at each stage of human development. Encourages the adoption of technology and innovation in small businesses through training programs and access to resources.
- PAC: The PAC envisions aligning with other developing nations to enhance youth economic programs, integrate young people into the economy, and heavily invest in skills training, research, and technological development. Commissions research on the development of local accessibility technology.
- IFP: Will ensure the development of high-tech classrooms-of-the-future by promoting the use of technology (e-books and eLearning) while ensuring that all schools have access to the Internet. Reactivate local agricultural support centers to assist farmers to access new technologies that will help farmers scale-up their production.
- UDM: Will include the provision of libraries, laboratories, computers and other relevant technologies that serve as teaching aids.
- Action SA: Technological tools such as educational software and digital maths games will also be introduced in classrooms to improve children’s mathematical abilities. Will develop network infrastructure for under-served communities by partnering with the private sector. This will empower people to develop their digital skills and increase access to global economic opportunities.
- RISE MZANSI: Will improve the quality of teaching in all subjects – and especially science, technology, engineering and mathematics – because the modern economy is knowledge-intensive. Will invest in human capital, technology and innovation, as the basis of a competitive 21st-century knowledge economy. This entails overhauling our skills and training systems, as well as easing skilled immigration and business travel.
- DA: Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education by early identification of learners with a strong aptitude for these subjects and accommodating them in specialist schools devoted to developing these skills. Implement a plan to ensure all schools have Internet access and free digital content.
- ANC: Will offer more digital learning opportunities, establish and resource creative industries and digital hubs in townships and rural areas for digital content production, including animation, gaming, virtual reality and augmented reality, photography, graphic design, sound production, audio design, film and video production, digital art production, transmedia and digital marketing.
- EFF: Will use research, technology, and innovation not as ends in themselves but to produce the knowledge, information, skills, and talent needed to support, facilitate, and fuel the development and growth of strategic industries and sectors of the economy and society, which are central to the overall independence and sovereignty of South African and African people. Will expand the tax base to include e-commerce, effectively tapping into the digital economy.
Parties not mentioned, who happen to cover the EdTech and Digital Economy topics in their manifestos was not intentional, might be because their manifesto could not be found online or there is no mentioning of EdTech and/or Digital Economy in their manifestos.
EdTech is critical as it sets a plethora of opportunities to take the nation’s youths into a growing digital economy. Workforces of the future will be in a technology-based ecosystem.
Let’s hope that after the elections, EdTech will become a reality and the ICT and Digital Economy Master Plan will be implemented.