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Johannesburg, Jan 10 (I-Net Bridge) - The demand for university places far outstrips supply, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday following the death of a prospective student's parent in a stampede at the University of Johannesburg earlier in the day.
"Every year there is a last-minute rush for a small number of remaining university places," the DA's youth leader Makashule Gana said.
"This is partly because many matriculants remain unaware of the full menu of tertiary options at their disposal. In particular, many still do not see Further Education and Training (FET) colleges as viable options for their future."
Gana said the DA believed that this was a result of inadequate guidance given to Grade 12 learners.
"It should be a matter of course that all matriculants should receive guidance to help them ascertain what options are viable based on their particular aptitude.
He said the DA would be writing to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to ask what guarantees were being put in place to ensure that career guidance, which was currently only a small part of the Life Orientation curriculum, was intensified and implemented correctly in schools.
"This process is vital for ensuring that students are directed into careers for which they have an aptitude and in which they can ultimately become productive citizens."
With a graduation rate of approximately 15%, South African universities had one of the lowest throughput rates in the world, leaving 85% of university entrants with no viable qualification and most with huge study fee debts.
"Despite this, students are pushed into university regardless of aptitude as, due to a lack of information at school, many see it as their only option."
Gana said that in order to contribute to a higher rate of skilled people actually graduating and entering the job market, the DA Youth felt that there should be a greater emphasis on career guidance at schools, and that increased attention should be given to FET colleges and self-employment as options for young people after matric.
There was currently a huge scarcity of skills in fields such as engineering and artisanal work, and study at an FET college could equip young people to exploit these market demands.
"We will urge the Minister to ensure that measures are put in place to guarantee that matriculants are equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future, and are not simply pushed into universities and set up for failure," Gana added.
