Black South Africans with higher education double

The census results showed that the proportion of black South Africans with a higher education qualification has nearly doubled since 1996, while the proportion with no schooling has halved.

About 11.8% of South Africans over 20 now possess a tertiary qualification, compared with 8.4% in 2001 and 7.1% in 1996.

Of those 5-24 years old, 73.5% attended an educational institution last year, compared with 71.5% in 2001 and 70.1% in 1996. Of those from 20-24 years old, 2% have received no schooling, compared with 44.1% of South Africans aged 80 or more.

Last year, 40.6% of 20- to 24 year-olds completed matric, compared with only 9.9% of those older than 80. The proportion of five- to seven-year-olds in education has increased significantly, to 81.2% of five-year-olds last year, up from 22.5% in 1996 and 45.6% in 2001.

The percentages of those seven to 15 years old, which is the compulsory band of schooling, is now in the mid- to high 90s, with 85.6% of 17-year-olds attending an educational institution, and 74.3% of those 18 years old.

The only trend to show for the age cohort 18-24 years was that at all ages the enrolment was higher in 1996 than last year, with 23.1% of those 24 years old undergoing education in 1996, compared to 14.8% last year.

Speaking at the launch yesterday, President Jacob Zuma said the results for education were "heartening". However, the figures "at the bottom of the rung is the black majority that continue to be confronted by deep poverty, unemployment and inequality".

University of Witwatersrand school of education associate Professor Brahm Fleisch said the data on increased numbers of tertiary qualification needed further analysis given the diversity of the post-secondary sector.

There had, for example, been a large increase in the number of private educational providers, while public universities, which had increased enrolment, had not increased in absolute numbers.

A hard look was needed at the actual qualifications being earned before conclusions could be drawn on what the increase in higher education achievements would mean for those looking to "seamlessly" enter the working world, he said.

Independent policy and development specialist Dr Martin Prew said yesterday another factor behind the increase of tertiary qualification could be the large number of Zimbabwean graduates who have entered the country, especially as the trouble in Zimbabwe began around 2001.

The report also notes a large shift in fields of higher educational studies, notably by gender. Results showed that in 2001, most higher educational qualifications among men were in the field of business, commerce or management science, at 19.4%, while 30.8% of women qualified in education, training and related fields.

Ten years on, 26.1% of women qualify in business, commerce or management science, with qualifications in educational fields dropping to 20.6% - the two dominant categories among women.

Qualifications in engineering and related fields saw a notable increase among men, to 23.9% from 19.1% in 2001. Women also increased their participation in this field, to 4.1% in 2011 from 1.9% in 2001.

Source: Business Day via I-NET Bridge