Since the release of the “matric” (National Senior Certificate) results, I have been inundated with calls from parents and students for advice on more or less the same things. So I am going to use this column to answer those questions for tens of thousands of families and their children. Here we go.
If you passed with a bachelor’s pass it does not mean you qualify for university studies. That is because far too many students, in fact, a record number, passed with this university entrance qualification. I know, the department of basic education should have worked with the department responsible for higher education in planning these kinds of things, but welcome to South Africa — where politics trumps policy in everything your government does.
In high-status fields like medicine, even having a straight flush (seven As) is not enough. That is because in the top universities almost every student applying to medicine or engineering or architecture has a straight flush or thereabouts. What this means is that a student with 90s and the odd 100 in that deck of cards is more likely to get in than one with 80s. So white folk, please don’t go around telling people that your child with 80s was excluded from medicine because Sannie or Wilberforce is white. Get over your skin.
How I wish there was a more humane policy for bright students from other African countries.
If you are looking for money to fund your studies in the same year in which you plan to study (that is, 2024) you are, quite frankly, irresponsible. But now that you are here, let me be clear that it is extremely difficult to get funding for undergraduate studies compared with postgraduate degrees. The only funding for the first degree is likely to come from NSFAS and you should have applied a long time ago in anticipation of going to university. Unfortunately, NSFAS has collapsed under twin curses of corruption and inefficiency, so it is not the most reliable source of funding even if it is the only show in town for undergraduate students. Note, though, that if both your parents are professionals and earning well, it is much more difficult to access this state funding facility compared with a talented poor student with unemployed parents.
If, on the other hand, you got 90s on average for your matric results, there are individual donors (a company or a foundation or a high-net worth individual and so on) who are likely to give you a look in. I have been able to knock on doors or crowdfund for such students, but your results must be consistently brilliant. Don’t even think of this option with 80s on your certificate of results. By the way, I have on occasion had students doctor their certificates, but it is easy to check with Umalusi whether those three 100% passes are legit, so don’t even try, you crooked ones.
A number of students have approached me for advice because they have been refused readmission to their university for failing too many undergraduate modules. The university then advises to do the failed courses elsewhere at Unisa or another university, and then you have two options: either complete the degree with the other university or pass well and then reapply to your original university. There are, to be blunt, status issues here especially for middle class parents of students. If you are at UCT or Stellenbosch, you do not want to go and do the outstanding courses at supposedly lesser universities like CPUT or Unisa. Get over your pride. You failed and this is the only way back into studies.
For African students whose parents are foreign nationals, there is a cruelty baked into our system, even if you did your high school education on South African soil. I am working with students waiting for that clearance letter from the provincial home affairs office, but official tardiness stresses these families so much. How I wish there was a more humane policy for bright students from other African countries.
Finally, lots of people have asked me to lean on a dean for admission or persuade an official in student affairs for accommodation. Please realise that you are asking me to go outside the protocols for admission and use my influence in ways that are not fair to other students. What I can do is refer you to the correct office to make your appeal and, where I know the student well, write a letter of reference where such is required. So, happy to advise, but I cannot be involved in the process itself without risk to all parties.
It’s a jungle out there. We have too few universities and too many poor passes from last year’s matriculant class. Our universities are underfunded and the lack of money in this cut-throat capitalist system often excludes promising students from higher education.
But here is a map for current and future students by which you can work your way through this maze that is South African education.
Good luck.
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