Young people attending the North West Provincial Legislature’s Youth Sectoral Parliament in Rustenburg have urged the government to address barriers preventing them from accessing higher education and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The programme provides a platform for young people from across the province to engage directly with lawmakers, voice their concerns and recommend solutions to issues affecting their future.
Access to higher education emerged as one of the key concerns during the discussions. Delegates highlighted the financial challenges faced by many prospective students, arguing that registration fees and other study-related costs continue to prevent deserving young people from pursuing tertiary education. They called for greater financial support to ensure that no student is excluded because of a lack of funding.
Entrepreneurship also featured prominently, with participants expressing frustration over limited access to funding, mentorship and business development support. They argued that many young people are willing to start businesses and create jobs but struggle to secure the resources needed to turn their ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Delegates also appealed to the government to recognise the realities facing unemployed young people, stressing that the lack of jobs and business opportunities should not be viewed as a lack of willingness to work, but rather as a consequence of limited access to opportunities.
The Youth Sectoral Parliament has brought together around 500 young people from across the North West to engage with lawmakers, government departments, higher education institutions, funding agencies and private sector partners on initiatives aimed at improving education, employment, entrepreneurship and youth development.
