Nzimande says 425 095 opportunities for matric class 2018

Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande says there are 425 095 opportunities available to the matric class of 2014 in the country’s universities and training institutions.

Briefing the media on post-school education and the department’s 2015 plans on Monday, the Minister said this was an increase of 28 646 opportunities compared to the 396 449 post-school study spaces that were available in 2014.

He made this announcement a week after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the 2014 National Senior Certificate examination results.

“Many of those who have met the entrance requirements for university study will be pursuing degrees, diplomas and higher certificates at one of 26 public universities. This includes the Sol Plaatje University and University of Mpumalanga, both of which are new universities entering their second year of operation, and the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), which was promulgated as a juristic person in May 2014 and will open its doors to its first student cohort in January 2015,” he said.

The Minister also said over and above the 26 opportunities in universities, students could also access opportunities in 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), which can help them to promote and fund occupational programmes linked to educational institutions and workplaces.

Giving a breakdown of the available opportunities, the Minister said this included:

• Some 204 522 new entrant opportunities at universities;
• 44 000 Engineering and Business Studies opportunities at TVET colleges;
• 37 000 National Certificate Vocational programme opportunities at TVET colleges;
• About 85 900 occupationally-directed (apprenticeship or learnership) opportunities in collaboration with TVET colleges, SETAs and employers;
• Artisan opportunities totalling to 16 250; and
• An additional 37 423 learning programme opportunities in the form of 3 380 apprenticeships, 4 513 bursaries and 29 530 learnerships will be further provided by SETAs.

Minister Nzimande also said there were 150 752 opportunities for learners qualifying for admission to Bachelor Studies at higher education institutions and 166 689 opportunities for learners qualifying for admission to Diploma Studies at higher education institutions.

There are further 86 022 opportunities for learners qualifying for admission to Higher Certificate Studies, the Minister said.

“The national average annual increase in first-time entering students at higher education institutions from 2011 to 2015 is 4.5%, with first-time entering students making up approximately 25% of the total university student population.

“In 2015, our public universities will provide access to approximately 204 522 new entrants wishing to pursue their studies across all general, technical and professional fields including Business and Management; Science, Engineering, Agriculture and Technology; Humanities, Social Sciences, the Arts and Education,” he said.

Calls for students to embrace opportunities in colleges, training institutions

The Minister said matriculants who have obtained a minimum of a Higher Certificate achievement can consider studying further at a TVET college for a National Diploma, with 44 000 study opportunities available for both business and engineering studies.

The National Development Plan envisages that the country produces 30 000 qualified artisans per year, the Minister said.

“Thirty-seven thousand study opportunities are also available for individuals wishing to pursue a vocational programme which leads to a National Certificate Vocational qualification.

“In South Africa there is a growing trend of matriculants utilising learnership or apprenticeship opportunities to become artisans in the Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing or Support Services career fields,” he said.

Minister Nzimande also said that the post-school education and training sector has, through the SETAs and National Skills Fund, committed over R1.7 billion in the 2015/16 financial year to opportunities in these artisan fields that will result in grants for over 16 250 artisan learners.

Annexure A

Table 1 below indicates the projected number of first-time entering students for 2015 as published in the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for 2013/14 to 2019/20.

Institution	2015 Projected
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	9 285
University of Cape Town	3 695
Central University of Technology	3 728
Durban University of Technology	7 064
University of Fort Hare	2 700
University of Free State	7 200
University of Johannesburg	10 159
University of KwaZulu-Natal	8 623
University of Limpopo	4 878
Mangosuthu University of Technology	3 440
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	5 850
North West University	9 471
University of Pretoria	8 645
Rhodes University	1 584
University of South Africa	67 404
University of Stellenbosch	4 900
Tshwane University of Technology	14 479
Vaal University of Technology	5 395
University of Venda	3 660
Walter Sisulu University	6 841
University of  the Western Cape	4 000
University of the Witwatersrand	5 894
University of Zululand	3 900
University of Mpumalanga	214
Sol Plaatje University	238
Medunsa	1 275
TOTAL	204 522

Annexure B

Table 2 below indicates the SETA Learning Programme opportunities for 2015

SETA	Learning Programme	Learner Opportunities	Contact Person
FOODBEV	Apprenticeships	73	Andrea Basson [email protected]
W&RSETA	Learnerships	1 900	Ankie Kemp [email protected]
AGRISETA	Apprenticeships	36	Frikkie Fouche [email protected]
	Learnerships	1 330
	Bursaries	250
FP&MSETA	Apprenticeships	200	Elizabeth Gonzalves [email protected]
	Learnerships	840
MQA	Apprenticeships	300	Mabvuto Palale [email protected]
	Learnerships	1 200
	Bursaries	510
MERSETA	Apprenticeships	300	S Buthelezi [email protected]
CHIETA	Apprenticeships	91	Ronnie Naidoo [email protected]
	Learnerships	140
	Bursaries	25
HWSETA	Pre-apprenticeships	1 100	Luyanda Lokwe [email protected]
ETDPSETA	Learnerships	900	Mr Mabo Raphotle [email protected]
	Bursaries	470
FASSET	Learnerships	4 030	Natercia Faustino [email protected]
MICT	Learnerships	500	Jabu Sibeko [email protected]
CETA	Learnerships	8 000	Innocent Ngenzi [email protected]
	Bursaries	2 745
BANKSETA	Learnerships	700	Rozah Magamba [email protected] Paulette Bourne [email protected]
	Bursaries	100
CATHSSETA	Learnerships	212	Ms Minah Matlala [email protected]
	Bursaries	63
SERVICES	Apprenticeships	980	Xolani Makhubu [email protected]
TETA	Learnerships	2 000	Mr Obakeng Mmono [email protected]
PSETA	Learnerships	50	Ms. Morongoe Nkabinde [email protected]
	Bursaries	150
LGSETA	Learnerships	4 800	Palmira Prinsloo [email protected]
SASSETA	Apprenticeships	180	Thembelani Mangena [email protected]
	Learnerships	200
	Bursaries	200
INSETA	Learnerships	2 228	Ella Matshikiza [email protected]
EWSETA	Apprenticeships	120	Elvis Ntikane [email protected]
	Learnerships	500
TOTAL		37 423

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Learning Programmes	Learner Opportunities
Apprenticeships	3 380
Bursaries	4 513
Learnerships	29 530
Total	37 423

 

– SAnews.gov.za