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Matric Pass Rate Rises, But Many Without University

EDUCATIONNEWSTOP STORIES
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Students queue outside UNISA during the 2018 registration period. (Picture Credits: X/@ewnreporter)

The Department of Higher Education is under strain due to the overwhelming number of applicants into institutions of higher education.

Approximately 135 158 of 337 158 matric students will be left out of the education system this year due to the limited spaces universities can offer.

Each year the Department of Higher Education is faced with the same issue. This speaks to the gap between the department of basic education and the Department of Higher Education.

Matric results improve each year increasing the demand for higher education. No efforts seem to be made to simultaneously increase higher education capacity.


The 87.3% 2024 matric pass rate is reported to be the highest pass rate since the dawn of a democratic South Africa yet two institutions have been build since then.

The president of the South African Students’ Congress (SASCO) Alungile Kamtshe says this is an exposition of lack of planning from the government. He says the government can make strides to increase accessibility by introducing online programs and evening/night schools.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) spokesperson, Gasant Abarder, said the problem is that many universities offer the same courses. He believes more universities of technology should offer programs in areas where the country needs skills, like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality.

In response to the capacity crisis, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has urged students to consider technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

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