With the significant population growth in Africa driving increased demand for air transport across the continent, there is a need for governments in the southern African region to improve basic and tertiary education.
This according to Airlines Association of Southern Africa (Aasa) CEO Chris Zweigenthal, who noted that around 20 000 new pilots, technicians and engineers would be needed to operate and support the expanded fleet needed to meet this demand.
He pointed out however that low standards of basic education were constraining industry-funded education initiatives which was damaging to the aviation industry which remained a key economic and development enabler as well as a driver of domestic, regional and global imports, exports and investments.
“Airlines and the entire aerospace industry are dependent on a pipeline of young, appropriately educated talent who they can prepare, with bridging training, for careers in the sector,” said Zweigenthal.
He highlighted that poor science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning – especially at schools in townships and rural areas – and the financial squeeze on South African universities and students was causing this pipeline to “dry up”.
“We trade in an open and competitive labour market, [therefore] in addition to fixing education, we need to attract the available talent to work in aviation in the region and also find ways to make sure they want to stay,” added Zweigenthal.
