Securing a direct link between the classroom and employment is a major priority for parents and school leaders globally.
Notably, South African private school network Generation Schools has been acquired by the Education Investment Impact Fund of South Africa (EduFund). The exciting new partnership plans to expand innovative vocational education curriculum pathways to directly address the country’s youth employment challenges.
EduFund, managed by Old Mutual Alternative Investments (OMAI), purchased the institution from JSE-listed Trematon Capital Investments for R172 million. This transaction will give the school network the necessary long-term capital to scale up its technical and practical training options. Consequently, international education stakeholders can find valuable insights here on how private funding can successfully support diverse learning models.
The focus on blending conventional study with practical workplace capabilities addresses a growing demand among parents for career-ready schooling models. Furthermore, financial backers agree that standard academic structures often miss the opportunity to develop these essential hands-on competencies. Commenting on the strategic value of this educational approach, Kelly Joshua, the Head of Education Investing for OMAI said,
“South Africa’s skills deficit is one of the defining economic challenges of our time. Generation Schools has built something genuinely differentiated as a group that combines rigorous academic schooling with vocational and trade pathways that lead directly to employment.”
Boosting Technical Competency Through Vocational Trade Schools
Founded in 2016, the school group has established six campuses across the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. The acquisition represents an opportunity to accelerate the mission of combining rigorous academic qualifications with technical skills training. Therefore, the strategic focus will center on expanding the specialised trade arm of the business to help students transition smoothly into the modern economy. Generation Schools CEO Jevron Epstein said,
“Our responsibility is not simply to educate students, it is to help shape young people who can contribute meaningfully to their communities and the broader economy. Education must become increasingly connected to real-world outcomes. EduFund and OMAI share that conviction, and this partnership gives us the long-term capital and expertise to accelerate that work at scale.”
Maintaining Leadership Continuity for Sustainable Institutional Growth
While the investment marks a significant shift in corporate ownership, the daily learning experience will remain completely stable. The existing management team will continue to lead the institution, ensuring that curriculum delivery and industry partnerships face no disruption.
Epstein expressed deep gratitude to Trematon for believing in the vision of Generation Schools from the very beginning. He noted that their support, guidance, and commitment over the past ten years have enabled the school group to build a strong foundation.
Furthermore, the previous investors noted that while the group is highly scalable, realising its complete potential requires patient capital. The transaction allows the school leadership to focus entirely on expanding into underserved communities while deepening workplace learning initiatives. Ultimately, this acquisition demonstrates how investing in varied vocational education curriculum pathways can create practical, sustainable employment opportunities for the next generation of learners.
