Equal access to quality education is a prerequisite for innovation, job creation

THE relentless, grinding problem of unemployment - and youth unemployment in particular - is understandably a recurring priority in virtually all government, civil society and business engagements. There is universal acceptance that this is the most pressing threat to the country's long-term stability. But the conversation often jumps from proposed policy interventions straight to the desired outcome: jobs.

- NICOLE MIRKIN

What's often missing is an obvious but critical fact: an efficient state can only absorb so many workers. If we are to create jobs at scale, they must come from private businesses.

But pro-business interventions only succeed if there are actual businesses and entrepreneurs positioned to take advantage of them.

What we should be most obsessed with, then, is building an education system that consistently produces business creators and leaders.

The deficits in South Africa's education system have been dissected at length. Yes, we need to modernise the curriculum.

We must ask hard questions about appropriate pass rates and the role of trade unions in enforcing standards of conduct and performance among educators. But we rarely ask a deeper question: can we teach entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership and a bias for action? Our ability to foster these qualities will determine whether we can cultivate the job creators of the future.

To see this link, one need look no further than two simple case studies from the beverage industry.