Power grids, ports, and highways dominate the conversation around economic growth, but the real engine of any economy is built in the classroom. Every engineer, entrepreneur, and healthcare worker starts with a teacher. As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day on 5 October, experts are urging a shift in focus: recognising educators not just as instructors, but as vital economic enablers who build the human capital driving our future.
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Pexels“Teachers are often viewed primarily as social contributors, but they are equally economic contributors,” says Osagyefo Mazwai, investment strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International.
“Every learner who stays in school, develops critical thinking skills and progresses into further education or employment represents future productivity, innovation and economic value. If we want a more competitive South Africa, we need to start by recognising the people who are building that future workforce every day.”
What is the link between education and economic participation?
Education and economic participation are closely linked:
- South Africans with a university degree have an employment rate of around 78%, compared to just 42% for those whose highest qualification is matric and roughly 30% for those who did not complete secondary school.
- Despite improvements in matric pass rates, a significant number of learners still leave the schooling system before completing Grade 12, limiting their prospective income capacity and ability to participate meaningfully in the economy.
- Strengthening learning outcomes and improving the quality of education is one of the most important levers available to South Africa to drive inclusive growth, reduce poverty and build the skills needed for a more competitive economy.
“As economies globally adapt to rapid technological change, digital transformation and climate-related transitions, demand is growing for skills such as problem-solving, digital literacy, Stem capability, adaptability and critical thinking. These capabilities are not developed overnight. They are cultivated over years through effective teaching and learning,” says Mazwai.
“South Africa cannot rely indefinitely on exporting raw commodities while importing high-value skills,” says Petronella Mohale, departmental head at Letsibogo Girls SOS in Soweto and Kutlwanong Promaths tutor.
“We need a generation of young people who can innovate, solve problems and create value. Teachers play a key role in helping learners build those capabilities and believe in their full potential,” Mohale continues.
In fact, it is arguably the profession on which all others depend, yet it is too often treated as a cost rather than an investment and seldom afforded the same status, recognition or reward as other professions.
“This perception has real consequences, shaping everything from remuneration and career longevity to the ability to attract and retain talented educators in a role that increasingly requires them to not only be a teacher, but a psychologist, mentor and social worker in equal measure.”
The call comes as the profession experiences rising pressures, including growing classroom demands, evolving digital requirements and ongoing resource constraints.
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Experts argue that elevating the teaching profession should be viewed not only as an education priority, but as an economic imperative.
“Teachers are shaping the productive capital of this country,” Mazwai points out. “South Africa’s ability to grow, industrialise and compete globally will depend on the skills of its people. That makes teachers every bit as important to our future prosperity as physical infrastructure.
“While government investment in school infrastructure, teaching resources and educator support remains essential, the private sector also has a meaningful role to play through partnerships, skills programmes, technology access and initiatives that help bridge resource gaps and expand opportunity.
“If South Africa wants a stronger economy tomorrow, it must place greater value on the professionals helping shape it today,” Mazwai declares.
“This World Teachers’ Day, the call is not simply to celebrate teachers, but to support them,” states Mtolo.
“Better outcomes require more than funding alone; they require active partnerships. It takes a village to raise a child, and it will take a collective national effort to raise the capable, skilled and resilient generation that South Africa's economic future depends on,” Mtolo concludes.
