Number of black students at tertiary institutions proportionally lower than other race groups: StatsSA

02 June 2016 - 15:00 By Ernest Mabuza

Although 68.5% of the students who were enrolled at higher education institutions were black‚ proportionally this group was under-represented‚ StatsSA said on Thursday. StatsSA was releasing the General Household Survey 2015‚ an annual household survey conducted by Stats SA since 2002.The survey is aimed at determining the progress of development in the country and covers six broad areas including education‚ health and social development‚ and housing.The survey revealed that there were 710 139 students enrolled at higher education institutions during 2015.However‚ only 3.1% of black South Africans aged 18 to 29 were studying at these institutions‚ compared to 14.3% of Indian/Asian South Africans and 15.7 of the white population in the same age group. Only 3.7% of the coloured students were studying at tertiary institutions in 2015 From street corner to candidate for graduate with a boardIt is not easy finding a job in SA. It’s a challenge thousands of graduates face each year‚ but one lucky university-leaver might be nearing the end of her search…thanks to her holding at a board at a busy intersection.Stellenbosch University to continue review of language policyThe university announced last year that it will be introducing English as the only medium for lectures.Wits clamps down on protestExams at the University of the Witwatersrand have not been disrupted‚ but the university has beefed up security after protests by workers on campus. Wits spokesman Shirona Patel said that security had been tightened as a result of a small protest on Tuesday. DA: Where is Blade during Fort Hare police lockdown?The Democratic Alliance used the “police lockdown and endemic student violence” ahead of the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) centenary celebration on Friday to ask: “Where is Blade?”These figures show that the majority of black people still do not have bigger representation in higher education‚ and this means the majority of black people will still be in the lower rungs of the economy for years to come.Statistician-General Pali Lehohla said the country should have at least 200 000 black graduates per year.He said there was an increase in the number of black students graduating in the 1970s.“The turning point came after 1995 where there were more numbers of black students attending higher learning institutions‚ but a decline in the number of those graduating.“For an analyst‚ this is tragic. Whatever pool you have that you want to fill‚ the one with blacks will never fill‚” Lehohla said. - TMG Digital..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.