LEARNING CURVE: How a classroom programme is tackling maths gaps and youth unemployment in SA

The JumpStart Foundation in South Africa is addressing two critical issues: high youth unemployment and widening gaps in foundational math skills. Their innovative program trains young people who have finished school but are unemployed to become tutors. These "academic lifelines" then work within schools to help younger students improve their math abilities. This dual approach aims to provide employment for young adults while simultaneously boosting educational outcomes.

This initiative matters because it offers a practical solution to simultaneously combat youth unemployment and improve foundational education, creating a positive feedback loop for both the tutors and the students they assist.