Education For Self-Employment

Workers Day 2018 is a good time to review educational systems to make them education for self-employment.  The notion that education leads to a good job becomes obsolete by the day as computers replace human labour. 

That is even misleading because initially, machines replaced workers in workplaces such as car plants and printing presses.  Computers have now made those machines redundant.  We make the difference between machines and computers because machines were at some point operated by one or two people, whereas computers obliterate the need for human beings altogether.

Education for self-employment will stress capitalism realities, which include profit.  Students should be constantly reminded that if they do get jobs after graduation from college or trade school, it is not employment for life, because employers are constantly looking for cost effective measures.  A literal translation of cost effectiveness would be: making more money with less workers.

Education for self employment also recognizes that education is no guarantee for a job because despite labour laws and the constitution, employers still hire through word of mouth, based on race or religion. For example, if a manager is a certain race, it is common for him or her to hire people of that race, which cancels out candidates with the appropriate education.  This is evident in the tech industry, road construction, clothing industry etc.

Education for self-employment means raising kids to understand that they don’t have to go to college to be in business.  In Bangkok Thailand, we saw young girls going to major outdoor markets early in the morning to buy clothes that are sold by weight.  The plastic bundle could be skirts, shorts or blouses.  The girls then put their mark-up and sold them in their own stalls.

Education is not even important, if we look at politics.  Kids should understand the importance of being volunteers in political parties, distributing flyers during elections, organising rallies and sitting on the phone convincing voters to vote for the red, blue or green party.
 
This is an investment for the future, when the minister wants communications directors or environment consultants.  Politicians are not in the game to fight for ‘the people.’ 
It is a job that could lead to the Prime Minister’s office in Ottawa or the U.S. Senate.

There are less workers in labour rallies.

Photo by:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

Education for employment is a matter of life and death now because unions have been emasculated.  Workers formed unions to protect their rights, jobs to be precise. It worked for a while because employers needed their labour. 
Technology has nullified that bargaining power and they are not able to effectively fight for workers, as they used to.
Workers Day 2018 is not the last year, but every year sees less and less workers on the street celebrating the day.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.