• Government to award 5,000 Google certifications in AI and digital skills
• Program targets students, teachers, and underserved communities
• Initiative aims to address high youth unemployment and skills gaps

South Africa is preparing to sign an agreement with Google to strengthen digital and artificial intelligence skills among its youth. According to a statement from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) released on March 24, the initiative will provide 5,000 Google certification scholarships to top candidates.

The program targets students, educators, and staff across public universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and community education and training (CET) colleges. Special attention will be given to rural and peri-urban communities, which often have less access to technology training.

The agreement, which will formally launch the program, is set to be signed on March 30, 2026, at Google’s offices in Johannesburg, in Bryanston, under the supervision of Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mimmy Gondwe.

The partnership will rely on several key components. The ministry said Google will provide artificial intelligence training programs for educators, using a train-the-trainer model designed to ensure broader and more sustainable knowledge transfer across institutions.

Participants will also receive professional certifications in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and IT support. These certifications are designed to be directly applicable in the job market.

The partnership also includes a technology component. Google will supply digital tools and help strengthen IT infrastructure in participating institutions, with the goal of creating an environment more conducive to building digital skills—an area where many South African institutions still face constraints.

The initiative comes against a backdrop of persistent labor market challenges. South Africa’s national unemployment rate stood at 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

Youth unemployment remains particularly high. Among people aged 15 to 34, the unemployment rate reached 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025. Although the overall rate declined slightly to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, youth unemployment remained elevated at 43.8%.

The gap between skills supply and labor market demand continues to be driven by limited access to technology and training. The World Bank’s Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025 notes that while mobile coverage is improving, effective internet use remains constrained by high costs and a lack of digital skills.

The report also highlights persistent disparities between urban and rural areas, income groups, and population segments. These gaps help explain why young people in less connected regions struggle to acquire digital skills, even where basic infrastructure exists.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou