Thwarted education a looming disaster — research

SA FACES “social and economic disaster” if it cannot improve the higher education participation rate of its 18- to 24-year-olds, says recently published research by the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (Chet).

Statistics show that approximately 40% of South Africans in this group were not in education, training or employment — about 3-million people, many impoverished, with nothing to do.

This held within it the possibility of serious social disruption, a “grave wastage of talent”, and could “simply render the country’s broad economic growth and development agenda untenable”, said the Chet research group.

It said the latest crime statistics ha d revealed a possible connection between crime and a lack of education — the average age of a house robber was between 19 and 25, and 90% had no matric or were unemployed .

Dropping out of school between grades 10 and 12 and passing matric without endorsement (a university pass) were the “worst” things that could happen to South African youths .

Having a matric qualification increased the likelihood of formal employment by as much as 60%, while those with a tertiary qualification were “up to three times more likely” to be employed than someone with a matric.

The reasons why large numbers of pupils dropped out of school between grades 10 and 12 needed to be investigated. The Chet researchers found that most pupils aspired to tertiary education, but their hopes were often dashed despite their ability.

They said young people who qualified for post-school education participation but were not involved numbered about 700000. “The figure is far too large if SA is to meet its targets of high-level and high-middle-level skilled people required for sustained economic development and the improvement of quality of life for all in our country.”

The researchers suggested the government train its efforts on widening access and participation at a level just below that of traditional university study. “The fact that approximately 85% of this figure of nearly 700000 could continue with higher education studies at the certificate or diploma level at universities (probably in the main universities of technology ) or with some form of ... studies at further education and training colleges, gives a strong indication of the directions which any interventions … should take.”

blaines@bdfm.co.za