As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, a time dedicated to honouring the role of young people in shaping the nation’s future, it’s a vital time to reflect on how we are preparing them for meaningful participation in the economy.
One of the most impactful professional pathways is that of the Chartered Accountant (CA) – a role that underpins ethical, sustainable leadership in both business and the public sector.
CA’s play a pivotal role in ensuring financial integrity, driving strategic decision-making and upholding governance standards across sectors.
Yet despite its significance, the CA profession remains out of reach for many talented South Africans due to persistent systemic barriers in our education and training landscape.
The journey to qualification is demanding, requiring not only technical excellence but resilience, adaptability, and the right kind of support.
Structural challenges such as unequal access to quality basic education, limited career guidance, and the pressures of work and home life can disproportionately affect students. The result? Many capable young people are excluded from pursuing this career – not because they lack potential, but because they lack opportunity.
To strengthen the CA pipeline, educational institutions should consider innovative ways to support aspiring accountants.
Academic programmes should strike a balance between rigour and responsiveness, reflecting the real-life challenges students face.
Flexibility is vital – whether through part-time study, half-workloads, online learning options, or inclusive teaching approaches that cater to diverse learning styles.
Creating conditions where students can truly succeed requires programmes that integrate empathy, academic excellence, and a future-ready mindset.
Comprehensive support is equally critical.
Psychosocial services, academic scaffolding, and bridging programmes must be seen as essential, not optional.
Students from under-resourced schools need more than just a seat in a lecture hall or course – they need targeted interventions that address learning gaps and boost self-confidence.
Tools like structured weekly study plans, mentorship from recent PGDA graduates, access to engaged academic staff, dynamic online platforms, and a dedicated wellness team create a personalised support system.
This ensures that students are not only academically capable, but also emotionally and mentally prepared and supported to navigate the demands of the CA journey and beyond.
Today’s accounting education must also evolve in line with the profession itself.
It must include digital literacy, sustainability, and data analytics alongside traditional technical competencies.
Career trajectories are also shifting – from audit and financial management to entrepreneurship and public sector leadership – and education must prepare students for this diverse range of roles.
Encouragingly, results are beginning to reflect the value of these adaptive, student-centred approaches. Milpark Education’s recent performance in the SAICA Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) is a powerful example.
More than 21% of all successful IAC candidates came from Milpark – a clear sign that flexible, well-supported online learning models can work, especially for students juggling multiple responsibilities.
South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis demands bold, innovative solutions.
Building a more inclusive and accessible CA pipeline must be part of that response.
By removing barriers and investing in the full potential of our youth, we don’t just close a skills gap – we unlock opportunities for economic participation, ethical leadership, and nation-building.
A future-focused, inclusive accounting profession can be a powerful engine for change.
Sumaya West, Subject Head of Corporate Governance and Auditing at Milpark Education
