Deputy President Paul Mashatile says there is an urgent need for the country to deal with the lack of spaces at institutions of higher learning and training.
Over 300 000 matric learners achieved Bachelor passes but because of limited space in the country’s universities, not all of them will be able to be accommodated.
Mashatile says more universities need to be built to address this crisis. He spoke to the SABC on the sidelines of the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust bursary and prize awarding ceremony for best-performing learners in Alexandra, North of Johannesburg.
The 18-year-old Ashely Chaponda, from Minerva High School in Alexandra, passed her matric with flying colors obtaining five distinctions.
Through the help of the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust, she is amongst 51 learners who have received a bursary. However, Chaponda who wants to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in IT says she is struggling to find space at university.
“I’m worried that because there is no space in the institution that I applied at, my other option is to go to a private institution,”
Rolivhuwa Muthelo from Realogile High is the overall top achiever in Alexandra bagging 6 distinctions. He is also a recipient of a bursary and says hard work and determination got him this far.
“I’m not surprised that I got these results, I made sure that I studied hard, despite my situation, living in an area where there is always loud music, also I’m happy that my school provided night classes for me,”
The Deputy President who is the chairperson of the Trust which was established in 2004 has provided bursaries to over 600 learners and high school students, some of whom have become notable contributors themselves in the development and growth of the Alexandra community and beyond.
He laments the lack of space in institutions of higher learning, saying urgent intervention is needed to address this challenge.
“You are right that we have less spaces in our universities for children who have passed. So, it’s a problem that we have to address urgently. Obviously, there is nothing other than building new universities at the moment because it takes time to build universities, we will see how we can accommodate these children we are pushing others to TVET colleges, but the reality is that SA does not have enough universities and I think we must start building.”
Mashatile lauds the performance of high schools in Alexandra Township which has been on an upward trajectory.
