The Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovations has projected that public universities will provide space for more than 1.1 million students in 2023. The 1 112 439 spaces are 41 545 spaces more than the 1 070 894 spaces provided in the 2022 academic year.
Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, said the increase in the number of spaces being provided by universities indicates that South Africa’s university sector is steadily growing.
Despite the increasing enrollment numbers, the department wants to continue on the current enrollment trajectory to achieve 1.6 million enrollments in public universities by 2030.
To make higher education more accessible, Minister Nzimande commissioned the Council of Higher Education to conduct a study on blended learning. They added that this may assist in achieving the National Development Plan goal of 1.6 million
While the department is aiming to increase overall enrollments, the Minister praised universities for exceeding targets for student enrollment in selected scarce skills programmes.
I must applaud our universities for their achievement in exceeding the targets for the veterinary science, animal sciences and teacher education areas. Well done for this achievement.
Nzimande explained that learners require a National Senior Certificate (NSC) Mathematics mark of at least 60% to occupy spaces within scarce skills areas.
Universities will also welcome 208 299 first-time students in 2023. It is projected that 69 069 first-time students will enrol in scarce skills programmes.
Scarce Skills Enrolments Will Be In The Following Disciplines:
- Engineering - 17 085 enrolments
- Life and Physical Science - 17 584 enrolments
- Animal Sciences - 985 enrolments
- Veterinary Sciences - 209 enrolments
- Human Health - 10 418 enrolments
- Teacher Education - 22 788 enrolments
Nzimande said the higher education department will also collaborate with Provincial Departments of Education to support mathematics, science and technology education (STEM). They believe this intervention will ensure an increase in the number of learners passing Grade 12 in mathematics, science and technology education.
The department also plans to intensify the implementation of the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP). They believe this will improve student success, quality of teaching and learning, including research and support curriculum renewal in all universities around South Africa.
