Youth Day in South Africa presents an opportunity to reflect on how far we have progressed as a nation, as well as the challenges we face. Although it’s been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth in South Africa still face significant headwinds when it comes to finding jobs. With an increasing unemployment rate, which according to Stats SA was 32.9% in Q1 of 2024, we need to do everything we can to upskill our citizens, using every means possible.
If you are in Matric this year, you may be wondering what the best options are when it comes to preparing yourself for this ever-changing world. Fortunately, education and technology have kept up with this evolving world — and distance and digital learning provide a way to help South Africans of any age get ahead with accredited qualifications and short learning programmes.
You have options outside of going to university for a good education, and skills course can help you get a job and move up your career ladder. Optimi College offers you course options that can bring you closer to getting jobs that are in demand. These courses range across different industries and can be accessed and completed from home.
Business Management
Whether you plan to be an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur within a larger company, having a solid knowledge of business management can go a long way in helping you get ahead. In this regard, you may want to consider pursuing the ICB Business Management: Foundation Level course. This IQB-endorsed course will teach you effective record-keeping and financial management needed for operating a small business. It will further provide you with the knowledge to perform key financial tasks, as well as teach you the importance of effective communication and accuracy.
Information Technology (IT)
In our fast-moving world, IT skills are regularly at the top of the list of in-demand skills. The significant size of this industry also means that you have multiple options to enter this space. Among the most in-demand skills are Network Engineering and IT Engineering. Through a provider such as Optimi College, you could pursue a Network Engineering course that covers areas such as installing hardware and display components, networking, Microsoft command line tools, and critical security concepts, to name but a few. Meanwhile, the IT Engineering course covers aspects such as comparing common operating systems, server functions and network essentials, disaster recovery, and much more.
Educare
Not everyone aspires to climb the corporate ladder and work for a major company or enterprise. If your passion is in childcare, you might want to consider the N4-N6 Educare programme. With this qualification, you have the option of starting your own daycare centre or working as an au pair or daycare manager. This National Certificate is a three-part programme that gives you the opportunity to convert your National Certificate to a National N Diploma at NQF Level 6.
Tourism
Should your wanderlust get the better of your ambitions, you can still achieve distinction in the field of travel and tourism with our QCTO-accredited qualification. This comprehensive three-part N4-N6 Tourism programme is renowned for providing learners with technical, theoretical, practical, and workplace knowledge and skills. Upon completion of all three certificate levels, along with practical experience in the field, this could also give you the option to apply for conversion to a National N Diploma at NQF Level 6.
Looking at all these options, there’s no doubt that there are more opportunities than ever before when it comes to advancing your career and moving forward.
Providers like Optimi College are changing the way we upskill ourselves for the better. Get in touch to start learning today!
