Challenges facing South Africa’s agricultural education and training (AET) sector are highlighted in the latest consensus study to be released by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) on 27 September 2017.

The study entitled Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training in South Africa seeks to identify and address the challenges facing the AET sector in South Africa in view of this sector’s importance in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

The study aims to provide evidenced-based information and clear recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders with an interest in agricultural human capital development.  

Some of the key findings of the study include inadequate funding for practical-level training; weak linkages to industry for understanding training needs; poor quality and inadequate numbers of educators who are appropriately trained to teach agriculture at school level; and poor linkages in the research–teaching–extension nexus.  

Recommendations are wide-ranging and practical and aimed at informing policymakers thereby improving the quality of AET in South Africa.