Fixing the Rainbow: A Call for Action | #MyFridayStory No 360
South Africa has a problem — scratch that — we have many. But today, I want to talk about one that has quietly but steadily chipped away at the foundation of our future: Education — or rather, the lack of meaningful, strategic investment in it since 1994.
Back then, the dream of a “Rainbow Nation” felt alive. Access to education was supposed to be the great equaliser, the bridge from a dark past to a brighter, unified future. And for many young people of colour, it was exactly that — a dream. Growing up, having a degree was the ultimate achievement, something previous generations could only imagine. So, when democracy opened the doors to universities and colleges, many rushed in.
But what awaited them?
Too often, it was a “degree” or “diploma” conjured up on the back of a cigarette box, offered by fly-by-night schools that mushroomed across the country. These institutions preyed on hopes and aspirations, duping students into believing they were getting a quality education. Instead, they left with certificates that weren’t worth the paper they were printed on. As word spread that a subject like marketing for example — was a relatively “easy” field to study, it became the default choice for students who just wanted to get their foot in the door.
Fast forward to today: an oversupply of marketing graduates, many with qualifications that hold little to no value in the job market. And this is just one example.
The real tragedy lies deeper.
Our government, after 1994, shifted its focus away from investing in education as a long-term strategy. Instead, it lowered standards to make access easier for the masses. On paper, it looked good: more matriculants, more graduates, more success. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. They don’t reveal the underfunded schools, the overcrowded classrooms, the undertrained teachers, and the students who leave school without the skills they need to survive.
Consider this: every year, approximately 800,000 young South Africans graduate from school. Some go on to tertiary education, while others try entering a job market with 11 million unemployed people. The math doesn’t add up.
And why?
Because there is no plan.
There’s no long-term vision for our economy’s needs in 10, 20, or 30 years. There is no effort to align the schooling system with future career demands. There is no strategy to guide students toward fields where their skills will be needed. We’ve left our young people to fend for themselves in an already broken system.
But imagine if we changed that.
Imagine if we followed the bold example of countries like South Korea, Singapore, or Japan — nations that reimagined their education systems when faced with existential crises as a country. What if South Africa did something radical, like Finland, which consistently scores one of the highest in standard of education?
Four-day school weeks. Four hours a day. No homework, no exams.
Yes, you read that right.
Think about it: a system designed not to test memory but to nurture curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. A system that starts with our youngest children and builds up year by year, so that in 12 years, we’d have our first class of matriculants ready to enter the economy fully equipped to succeed.
It’s a great place to start with education, but let’s face it, Mzansi has many challenges. What if, instead of waiting for this change to happen organically, we launched a national movement to make it real? What if we approached the problem like you would for a large corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees?
Here’s the idea:
President Cyril Ramaphosa calls the CEO of a large advertising agency and in his dulcet tones says, “I need you to run a year-long campaign to unite this country.”
Budget:
R10 billion.
Objective:
“Take every South African on a journey to learn, discover, and fall in love with each other — for the first time.”
The campaign would be prolific — schools, universities, churches, malls, sports stadiums and cultural events. It would bring people together around a patriotic narrative: The idea that we are all part of this national project called The Rainbow Nation, and we must make it work. We treat it like it’s our nation’s secret that we are all.in on.
Teams of brilliant strategists, copywriters and media planners would be involved in crafting messages, content and initiatives that inspire action and hope. Purpose-designed events and gatherings would create momentum. TV game shows, talk shows and cross-cultural festivals will all help encourage participation. Taking part would become a point of pride — and even something to be frowned upon if you ignored it.
In this process, we could purge many of our outdated systems — and thinking — and start fresh. Look at countries like Germany, Singapore, and Japan — entire countries that turned themselves around when their backs were against the wall.
Why not us?
South Africa is a young democracy. Thirty years is a blip in the life of a nation. We still have time to rewrite this story. We can still create the fairytale ending we’ve been longing for.
But we must act now.
We can’t afford to wait another minute. The road to fixing South Africa begins with one decision:
To move the needle toward good, toward hope, toward a future where our children and grandchildren — our first true Rainbow Nation generation — can thrive.
Let’s get started.
What can you do to help move the needle?
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to be generous! 😄
🎄 Merry Christmas Everyone! 🎄
As always, thanks for reading. 🙏
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