It is that time of the year again where South await the matric results, along with the analysis and the reflection from inside of and outside of the Department of Education.

Some outcomes will be that there needs to be greater investment into Early Childhood Development, a constant need for greater systemic interventions such as teacher development, that we need to relook at issues around curriculum and that the number of matriculants passing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects are too low.

While these all remain very valid, another perspective is that this cohort of school-leavers has literally lived through a global pandemic.

They have experienced first-hand and from varying perspectives how life can drastically change in an instant. This is an asset as they enter the formal world of work.

Guest on the line:Riyaadh Ebrahim – Social Investment Specialist at Tshikululu Social Investments