A different student, a different institution: Improving access to higher education in South Africa

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A different student, a different institution
Improving access to higher education in South
Africa

• Peliwe Lolwana
• 11th February 2008
• Cairo

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1. Background- South Africa

• Basic statistics
• Population 47.4 million
• Male 49 Female 51
• Race Groups
• Africans 78.9
• Coloured 8.9
• Indian 2.5
• White 9.4

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Background..continued
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Background..continued

• School statistics
• 750 000 write Senior Certificate Examinations
  every year
• 86 000 (17)meet minimum requirement for
  university entry
• 260 000 (51) pass with a school leaving
  certificate eligible for diploma or hE
  certificate, not degree
• 162 000 (32) fail the university entry
  examinations

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Background..continued

• FET Colleges
• 50 public colleges in 246 campuses
• 100 200 private college campuses
• HE institutions
• Public institutions 36 institutions merged to 23
  institutions 745 000 learners in 2005
• Private institutions less than 20 000 (3)
• Government participation target 820 000 by 2010
• NCHE targeted participation rates 30

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Background..continued

• Growth in SA higher education

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Background..continued
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2. Access Problems in the system

• Performance of the school system
• Absence of second chances for school leavers
• HE entry requirements dating from 1918
• Severe inequalities
• Definition of higher education
• Size and capacity of the current HE system
  limited for growth
• Labour market crisis at the intermediate levels
• Wastage of human capital
• Financing of the non- university system

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3. Objectives of study

• Getting a different student in HE
• Establishing a 2nd chance high school completion
  qualification and program
• Reviewing current entry requirements
• A different higher education institution
  Further Education and training colleges to
• Establish capacity to support a weaker and at
  risk student
• Provide intermediate and transfer programs
• Provide engine for community development

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Objectives of studycontinued

• Bringing different institutions in the higher
  education space
• Strong participation by private colleges
• Articulation and recognition protocols by higher
  education

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4. Focus areas of study

• Literature review on differentiated higher
  education systems
• Second chance high school equivalency programs
• Alternate HE entry requirements
• Transfer curriculum
• Articulation and recognition protocols
• Quality assurance systems and processes
• Student support systems
• Financing a differentiated HE system

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Focus areas of study continued

• B. Design
• Size and capacity of the current FET college
  system
• Steering committee for the project
• National focused workshops on recommendations
  from the 1st phase
• Piloting the system
• Reviewing the program for national implementation