Varsity students drop out like flies

schumi

schumi

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Cape Town - University students are dropping out of higher education bus like flies, raising alarm bells over the economic future of the country.

After the concerns over the #FeesMustFall protests, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation said a range of studies in South African higher education, over the past decade, had shown persistently low university completion rates.

With universities across the country holding graduation ceremonies, the foundation said its research has shown that only 32% of financial aid students graduate after five years of study.

The organisation said the cause of students dropping out cannot be approached with a blanket view, as “transition to university is an enormous leap across economic, social and cultural barriers for most first-generation university students.”

Council on Higher Education chief executive Professor Narend Baijnath said generally more students drop out in their first year compared to any other year.

“There are costs associated with dropping out - for the state - subsidy, financial aid, the loss of potential graduates to the economy and society; and for the student, unrealised potential and more circumscribed employment opportunities; for parents, massive investments in their children that have come to nought.”

He said factors that increased the number of drop-outs included academic factors and socio-economic ones.

A number of things need to be done to reduce drop-out rates like curriculum reform and sufficient funding for universities and students, career guidance and improved teaching and learning methods.

“Most universities do their best with the limited resources available, but the problem is extensive and would require a systemic response.

"It also needs to be remembered that student fees are a source of cross-subsidisation for poorer students and for student support,” Baijnath added.

UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said last year 2871 students dropped out, while 2005 dropped out in 2015.

“The figures do not suggest any significant increase, as it is important to note that while the number of drop-outs has increased, the total student population has also been increasing over the years.
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More at: https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/varsity-students-drop-out-like-flies-12394882
 
Don't worry, Angie Motshekga's got your back youngens.
 
Entrance requirements have been lowered, you can't let every tom, dick & harry in. The school system is in shambles and you can't expect someone that just scrapes by to make it.
Allocate your positions to the high achievers, else you are just wasting funds. Allocate positions on industry needs so focus on STEM, do we really need 50k ba pol sci graduates a year that wont find work?
 
What, so the free education doesn't mean automatic pass? Swoosh!?!?!

Also, are they finished de-colonizing Science, yet?
 
ponder said:
Entrance requirements have been lowered, you can't let every tom, dick & harry in. The school system is in shambles and you can't expect someone that just scrapes by to make it.
Allocate your positions to the high achievers, else you are just wasting funds. Allocate positions on industry needs so focus on STEM, do we really need 50k ba pol sci graduates a year that wont find work?
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Wot he said ^
 
Just give me my doctorate.

I demand.
Or I burn the place down.
Reality hits the twats between the eyes.
 
People also do not want to admit that some people simply do not have the inherent intellectual ability to be at varsity. In reality those kids are better of working or doing some kind of trade skill. The idea that we should all go to university is the biggest BS in the new SA
 
Nicodeamus said:
People also do not want to admit that some people simply do not have the inherent intellectual ability to be at varsity. In reality those kids are better of working or doing some kind of trade skill. The idea that we should all go to university is the biggest BS in the new SA
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Or that for some people, a university degree is something that some only need to pursue a bit later on in life. After they've had their priorities sorted out.

A number of things need to be done to reduce drop-out rates like curriculum reform and sufficient funding for universities and students, career guidance and improved teaching and learning methods.
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I can't deny that universities need better funding, but with the wealth of information and resources available online, I find it hard to believe that maths and science students are dropping out because of teaching and learning methods.
 
Back in my day, early 2000s, we had lots of white kids drop out in 1st year as well, so it's not just the typical financial aid students.
 
ponder said:
Allocate your positions to the high achievers, else you are just wasting funds. Allocate positions on industry needs so focus on STEM, do we really need 50k ba pol sci graduates a year that wont find work?
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There aren't enough high achievers coming through the South African school system to keep universities financially sustainable. Like it or not, universities need the subsidies/fees for teaching large classes.
 
My opinion is still that Tertiary education should be paid for and rather that Primary education be for free.
Need a good foundation first before you can build on it.
Also standards should never have been dropped to allow more passes, that was looking for trouble....
 
Going to varsity is seen as an additional type of grant these days. Free money for a few years, you just have to show up to collect..
 
Well, back in the early 2000's we started as 86 engineers in my discipline, and only 11 finished.

That being said, entry to engineering was a bit stricter back then, and most of the "drop-outs" only changed to another B.Sc degree

I agree with ponder on the industry focus for bursaries and grants, but the problem is not the need. The problem is that these students do not have the basic foundation to finish these industry required degrees, even if they do get grants.

The groundwork for any university/technical degree is laid during the secondary educational phase.
 
Zophos said:
Well, back in the early 2000's we started as 86 engineers in my discipline, and only 11 finished.

That being said, entry to engineering was a bit stricter back then, and most of the "drop-outs" only changed to another B.Sc degree

I agree with ponder on the industry focus for bursaries and grants, but the problem is not the need. The problem is that these students do not have the basic foundation to finish these industry required degrees, even if they do get grants.

The groundwork for any university/technical degree is laid during the secondary educational phase.
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And the groundwork for the secondary educational phase as laid during the primary educational phase.
 
Zophos said:
Well, back in the early 2000's we started as 86 engineers in my discipline, and only 11 finished.

That being said, entry to engineering was a bit stricter back then, and most of the "drop-outs" only changed to another B.Sc degree
/snip
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I started in a class of ~70 in 2009, and in 2012 only 9 from the same class graduated. About another ~25 or so completed following year though, so it's not too bad I guess.
 
“There are costs associated with dropping out - for the state - subsidy, financial aid, the loss of potential graduates to the economy and society; ”
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An additional hundred thousand Human sciences students majoring in political science every year won't benefit the economy.
 
skimread said:
An additional hundred thousand Human sciences students majoring in political science every year won't benefit the economy.
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The problem is that if they drop out, they've already cost the country a certain amount in the subsidies that the government gives to the universities, NSFAS, etc. - and they don't even have degrees to show for it.
 
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