EDUCATION NEWS - Are schools preparing African children to shape the future, or are they focusing too heavily on memorising facts and reproducing information?
Dr Sizwe Nxasana, co-founder of Future Nation Schools and CEO of Sifiso Learning Group, believes education should go beyond the acquisition of knowledge.
Learners need opportunities to apply what they learn, investigate challenges and develop solutions to problems that affect their communities.
Project-based learning (PBL) is one approach that connects classroom teaching with practical experiences. It allows learners to explore meaningful questions, test ideas and develop solutions while working with the concepts and skills required by the curriculum.
The need to strengthen education outcomes in South Africa remains pressing.
Statistics South Africa recorded an unemployment rate of 60.9% among people aged 15 to 24 in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study found that 81% of South African Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning.
These figures highlight the importance of building strong foundational skills. Before learners can tackle complex challenges, they need to understand information, interpret evidence, calculate accurately and communicate their reasoning.
Learners participate in Market Day.
Project-based learning aims to strengthen these foundations by connecting academic knowledge with practical application. Rather than treating projects as activities separate from classroom teaching, learners draw on subjects such as Mathematics, Science and languages to investigate questions and deepen their understanding.
Research supports the potential benefits of this approach. A 2023 meta-analysis of 66 studies, published in Frontiers in Psychology, found that project-based learning improved learning outcomes compared with conventional teaching, particularly in academic achievement.
The researchers also identified positive effects on learners' attitudes and thinking skills.
Learning through practical experience
Project-based learning can begin in the early years of schooling. Young learners designing and testing their own games, for example, can practise counting, addition, patterns and measurement while developing reading and communication skills.
As learners grow older, projects can explore more complex issues, including water conservation, renewable energy, waste management and climate change.
A project investigating water shortages could require learners to apply scientific principles, analyse data, calculate water consumption and present recommendations. They would need to evaluate evidence, compare possible solutions and reconsider their ideas when an approach proves unsuccessful.
Learner displays robot they assembled. Photos: Supplied
Such activities can help develop problem-solving, collaboration and perseverance. They also expose learners to situations in which there is not necessarily one straightforward answer.
Teachers remain central to the process. Their role includes guiding investigations, explaining difficult concepts and ensuring that practical activities reinforce curriculum requirements rather than replace essential subject teaching.
Preparing learners for a changing world
The approach is particularly relevant as workplace skills continue to evolve. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 39% of workers' core skills will change by 2030. Creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and technological literacy are among the capabilities expected to become increasingly important.
For South Africa and the rest of Africa, developing these skills has implications beyond employment. Communities face challenges that require informed decision-making, innovation and solutions suited to local conditions.
Learners who can combine academic knowledge with critical thinking and practical application may be better equipped to contribute to addressing these challenges.
Project-based learning is not about replacing academic rigour with practical activities. Instead, it seeks to ensure that learners understand what they study, why it matters and how they can use that knowledge.
By connecting classroom learning to real-world problems, schools can help young people develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to adapt to change, explore new ideas and contribute to solutions that shape Africa's future.
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