Page 8 - Education Supplement August 2025

RETHINKING THE FINISH LINE:

Why BTEC Might Be the Qualification

South African Learners Actually Deserve

By the EDU360 Team, with insights from Justin Barry, Jacqui McKelvey, and Tonderai Nyandoro

et’s be honest: for too many South African students, the last few Over two years, students complete hands-on
years of school feel less like a runway and more like a dead end. modules in:
LThey’ve been told to follow one road, tick the same boxes, chase • Programming
the same finish line — even when that line is in a language they don’t • Cybersecurity
speak, a rhythm they don’t move to, a system that was never really • Data modelling
built for them. • IT systems and strategy
• Project management
Enter the Pearson BTEC International Level 3 in Information • Emerging technologies and AI
Technology — a qualification that says: there’s more than one way to
get there. And actually, there’s more than one there. The qualification itself is delivered in
partnership with SwitchedOn Education,
“We’ve worked with so many learners who don’t belong in mainstream, but everything — from scaffolding to
not because they can’t cope intellectually, but because they need a submission — happens in person at
different way in,” says Justin Barry, co-founder of EDU360. “The BTEC EDU360.
provides that — it’s structured, rigorous, but human. It lets kids build
real capability and self-belief.” “The course is beautifully laid out,” says
Tonderai Nyandoro, BTEC Lead at EDU360.
So, what is BTEC — really? “It’s not about sitting back and passively
It’s not a watered-down alternative. It’s not a Plan B. taking things in — students are active. They
build projects, make decisions, use their
It’s a globally respected, skill-based qualification that focuses on the judgement. That’s what makes it stick.”
real world — the digital world — and helps students build competence,
confidence, and clarity. And he’s seen it happen — in real time.
One learner, quiet and unsure, lit up during
Think project work, not pop quizzes. the first coding module. “Suddenly he was
Think practical briefs, not panic-driven finals. coming to class early, asking for more. He
Think: “Here’s a scenario — now build the solution.” saw what he could do.”

Education | August 2025 | 6