Two top education officials have warned that the country is losing too many young people in the jump from school to university, calling for urgent, practical fixes during a Principals’ Breakfast hosted by Regenesys School of Education.
The gathering heard blunt assessments about a system struggling to keep pace with technological change and failing to prepare learners for the demands of higher education. The breakfast, held under the theme “Aligning Pathways: Building Bridges from Secondary School to Higher Education,” brought together principals, policymakers, and sector leaders for a frank discussion on how to stabilise one of the most fragile points in the country’s education pipeline.
Opening the session, Kamala Pather, Head of the Regenesys School of Education, stressed the cost of inaction. She noted that students without access to competent teachers and modern skills foundations are cut off from opportunities to innovate and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Her remarks set an unambiguous tone. The system requires alignment, and time is running out.
Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, recognised Regenesys for creating a forum that confronts these challenges directly. He argued that the country cannot build a future-ready workforce unless secondary and tertiary institutions work far more closely to deliver critical thinking, problem solving and digital capability. He pointed to Regenesys’ effort to embed AI modules across its qualifications as an example of where the system should be heading.
He also warned against a narrow focus on technical skills: “A modern curriculum must cultivate ethics, social responsibility and an understanding of how technology shapes society. The time for dialogue is over. The time for building is now. Let’s get to work and let’s work together.”
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane delivered an equally direct message. He described the school to university transition as “a ticking time bomb”, citing poor graduation rates and a widening human capital deficit. The MEC pointed to several structural weaknesses: uneven access to quality schooling, a disconnect between school curricula and tertiary requirements, varying levels of pedagogical skill and the abrupt shift from highly supported learning to independent study.
Chiloane also pressed home the urgency of preparing young people for a rapidly changing digital world. He questioned whether African youth would shape technological systems or simply consume those designed elsewhere. He argued that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has already arrived and that institutions like Regenesys have a critical role in helping the country compete.
Despite the blunt warnings, the MEC framed the moment as an opportunity for transformation if the sector acts with unity and clarity: “The future is not some place where we are going, but one we are creating.”
Closing the event, Regenesys Co-Founder and Chairman Dr Marko Saravanja underscored the institution’s commitment to strengthening the skills pipeline. He announced that Regenesys will allocate R1 million worth of AI programmes to be distributed through the MEC, the Director-General and the South African Principals Association. Saravanja called on principals to use their influence to drive change in their schools and communities, stressing that sustainable improvement requires leadership at every level.
The morning ended with a shared recognition. South Africa has the talent, institutions, and intent to fix the transition gap, but only if the work starts now and only if the system acts together.