Message by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) South Africa in celebration of Youth Day on June 16, 2023

2023 Youth Month theme: “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future”

Date: 16 June 2023

On this Youth Day 2023, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) extends its warmest greetings and heartfelt congratulations to all the young minds who are the driving force behind our nation's progress. Today, we commemorate the brave youth of 1976 who fought for their right to education, and we recognize the immense potential and power that lies within each one of you.

This year, as we celebrate Youth Day/Month under the theme "Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future," we acknowledge the importance of empowering our youth to create a prosperous and equitable society. We recognize that education plays a pivotal role in this process and that it is through access to education, knowledge, skills, and innovation that we can forge a path toward economic independence and sustainable development.

South Africa faces numerous challenges, including high levels of unemployment, inequality, and poverty. However, we firmly believe that investment in the education of our young people can assist immensely to address these challenges in ways that unlock the potential that resides in our youth and so create a brighter future for all.

The CHE is committed to working with higher education institutions (public and private), government departments, other quality councils, professional bodies, researchers, academics and the society at large to provide quality education to our youth.

We salute the young people of earlier generations who sacrificed their youth, and their opportunities for education to fight for the democracy that we now possess. In striving for education, let us also strive the protect the hard-won democracy that many made sacrifices to achieve.

“To the heroes of tomorrow, to the energies that will define the future…… Wishing a very warm and Happy Youth Day to you”.

Council on Higher Education (CHE)