Access to higher education is a conversation which has been ongoing for as long as we can remember. Many students and parents are faced with a challenge annually due to limited space at tertiary institutions. 

Academic Performance

It goes without saying that higher education is the reserve of those who have the requisite academic acumen. They must meet a certain set of criteria.

A Senior Certificate is achieved if the candidate satisfies the following requirements:

• Pass three subjects at 40%, one of which must be an official language at Home Language level.
• Pass two subjects at 30%, one of which must be at First Additional or Home Language level.
• Obtain a subminimum of 20% in the sixth subject

A Senior Certificate with entrance to a bachelor’s degree programme has the following requirements:

• Pass one official language at Home Language level at 40%.
• Pass four subjects at 50%.
• Pass two other subjects at a minimum of 30%
• Meet the language requirement for entry to further study (30% or more)

Having met these criteria, a candidate could still face challenges regarding entrance into an institution of higher learning.

Firstly, KwaZulu-Natal does not have sufficient institutions to place all those who desire post-matric studies. For this reason, many who meet the minimum requirements for post-matric studies and for the specific programme of choice are not accepted because the institution does not have capacity for more students. Many are left very disillusioned as a result thereof.

Secondly, our young people do not receive sufficient guidance with regards to what to study and where to study. For most it is a trial and error exercise. For this reason, we see many students changing programmes after discovering that they have chosen the wrong programme. This is surely a waste of financial resources and time.

Thirdly, for many that have to either move to another town or province, this carries with it the burden of costs for accommodation and meals. The province does not have sufficient affordable student accommodation to meet the requirement of the thousands of young people who leave home very year to study further.

Finances

Education is very costly. Although the state subsidizes fees at public institutions, even after the subsidy it is still unaffordable for most. Over and above tuition fees, there is the cost of books, accommodation, meals and other everyday expenses. It is for this reason that we witnessed the “Fees must fall” movement.  Government responded by declaring free education to deserving students.

That being said, we still have many students who carry historic debt. This impacts their ability to register for the next year as well as access to their academic records.

The South African Union of Students demanded in a memorandum submitted on 16 January 2020 to Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology that historic debts be scrapped, students in debt be allowed to register, and academic records and certificates be issued to all students – even those owing fees, amongst other things.

In his reply, Minister Nzimande has said that NSFAS qualifying students who carry debt from 2019 would be allowed to register. Unfortunately, public funds for the university system are constrained and there is no possibility that debts of students who are not NSFAS-qualifying can be eradicated by the government

The conversation around this matter continues and we as the public and affected parties wait with bated breath for the outcome.

Victor Smith | Training Manager