Demand overwhelming supply in tertiary education

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What other solutions are there to the shortage of places in tertiary education? In the current tough economic climate, many believe that having a tertiary qualification makes it easier to secure a job. With an estimated one in four people in South Africa currently unemployed, many young South Africans feel that a university degree may be their only hope for securing employment, which means that the demand for university degrees in this country outstrips supply by a hundredfold.

The South African Institute of Race Relations' 2010/11 survey revealed that first-year enrolments increased by 16% between 2004 and 2010. This increase represents the heightened desire of the country's youths to be further educated in the hope of being more competitive candidates in the cut-throat job market.

At least six new public universities will be needed

In order for equilibrium between the demand and supply for higher education to be reached, it is estimated that at least six new public universities will be needed. But can the South African Government afford to build enough public universities to meet excess demand? Are the two new universities (set to open in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape in 2014) a case of too little too late? What can be done now to help the 180 000 or so youths who were unable to register at a tertiary education facility this year?

The public colleges spread across South Africa that make up the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector are too small and, in some cases, simply weak to absorb the overflow of students who cannot be accommodated in public universities. In some cases, the standard of education offered by these colleges is considered too low. These factors mean that the colleges often do not compete with the larger institutions in the provision of quality post-school education.

Another South African Institute of Race Relations study in 2010 showed that of the nearly five million South African youths aged between 20 and 24, only 892 936 were enrolled in public higher education, a participation rate of 18.6%. This is a far cry from the target participation rate set by the government for 2030, of 23% in universities and 60% in other post-school institutions.

The answer to this problem may very well lie in extending distance learning offerings. Higher Education and Training Minister, Blade Nzimande, has attempted to identify ways in which the provision of distance learning by established institutions can be encouraged in order further to develop distance learning as part of the greater higher education system in South Africa and target the unemployed youths of the country, enabling them to become what he describes as "financially productive and socially invested members of society".

Distance learning is the way of the future

Milpark's executive manager: tuition and research, Dr Japie Heydenrych, believes that "distance learning is the way of the future, and with advances in technology and more South African youths having access to the Web via mobile devices, it will be possible to make distance learning more accessible to an increased number of students all over South Africa."

Enrolments in distance education make up a significant proportion of the total higher education system. Distance learning has come a long way from the days of learning by postal correspondence and has secured a firm place in South African education. The number of students present online has grown rapidly in recent years and the demand for good quality, affordable, online learning is exploding. Distance learning is challenging our expectations about teaching and learning. Many aspects of traditional education are becoming outdated, expensive and slow.

As the pressure on full-time undergraduate places at South Africa's public universities continues to increase, many first-time students will be turning to distance learning as admission requirements are traditionally more flexible, tuition fees are usually lower and students can avoid the costs of travel and living away from home. Quality, supported distance learning will provide students with an accessible and flexible way of completing their studies at an affordable price from any location around South Africa.