The class of 2025 Matrics achieved a record-high pass rate and also performed well in achieving Bachelors passes. 46.4% of candidates achieved a bachelors pass which opens up access to university study - but there are not enough positions within the university system to accommodate them all.
"This gap between success and capacity Is real but it is also longstanding. This is a shock to the system and our responses need to be much more bold and much firmer", said Manamela.
Minister Manamela shared the discussion he has been having with the Basic Education Minister. "We are going to have a very friendly fight with Basic Education because categorising a pass as Bachelors pass essentially means you are creating an expectation that our rules in in universities do not operate by. There is a persistent misunderstanding - a Bachelors pass does not guarantee admission to a university or to a specific programme".
This misconception that a Bachelors pass guarantees access to a university place is not the case for two reasons.
Most university courses have additional, and higher, academic requirements than simply a Bachelors pass. This may include marks for specific courses, or a higher overall pass rate. Universities utilise an APS scoring system that applicants have to reach to gain access to the course.
The second issue is that university places are limited and cannot accommodate all of the Matric learners who pass each year. When added to the pool of people who have passed Matric in previous years but didn't immediately start studying, there is no way to place all of the applicants.
Minister Manamela also shared with the public another reason why places for university study are limited. The Department engages in regular research into the requirements of the workplace. He gave the example of studies to become a lawyer, which he said is currently a popular study option. The Higher Education Department researches the needs of the economy, and for example establishing how many lawyers are needed and can be accommodated in the system.
"We have a particular number of students that we want to train based on the projections of what we'll need, and where the economy is going". So it is not a good idea to cater for all young people who might want to study law - if there is no space for them in the business world when they are finished studying.
