You cannot force a square peg into a round hole, as the saying goes. And yet, at the start of each year we are confronted with the same images of queues of young people outside the gates of universities and colleges in the (often vain) hope of securing a place. A place that cannot be guaranteed, because the number of qualified applicants vastly exceeds the number of available spots.
The numbers are stark. Last year there were more than 340000 bachelor passes recorded countrywide. The number of available spots at public universities?
Approximately 235000. Likewise, the demand for education and training at the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and Community Education and Training Colleges continues to outstrip capacity. As the country celebrates a record 88% National Senior Certificate pass rate and lauds the extraordinary effort of pupils, teachers and families, there is the question of what awaits these young people.
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Having done all that was expected of them; finishing school with good marks, they apply for a university place, then wait hopefully. And year after year the system responds with rejection, or a waiting list. It is time for an honest reflection on the result of this: Frustration, wasted potential, and a growing sense of betrayal.
This is not a new problem. It is a structural one, and it requires structural solutions. Continuing to rely primarily on brick-and-mortar expansion doesn’t just continue to exclude thousands of capable young people each year, it is also fundamentally dishonest, knowing as we do that the door cannot open wide enough.
As a country we are not keeping up with the times, embracing alternatives to physical tertiary institution attendance including EdTech and e-learning. The question is not even whether we should, but whether we can afford not to. Across the globe, countries are investing heavily in EdTech to deliver learning and diverse educational needs.
India, for example, has a growing EdTech market “fuelled by a young population, increased internet penetration and a rising demand for affordable educational solutions”, according to a recently report. Online platforms are enabling students to get recognised certifications from some of the world’s most reputable universities outside of the traditional degree programme.
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