For all high-school learners, the National Senior Certificate (NSC) represents the gateway to further study.
But what exactly are the options available to the average South African student and, more importantly, does one size fit all?
What Should I Study?
I have two daughters in high school who every so often raise the subject of further study with me. As different as they are, the advice I offered them both was the same and it was the very same that my dad, a music teacher, offered me when I was in high school: find something that you really enjoy doing and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!
Look to your own family. Chances are that the happiest among them are the ones who love what they do. While it is a given that your choice must also be able to support you financially when you eventually enter the world of work, choosing a field of study that you feel passionate about is the first step in the process. Passion fuels purpose but, more importantly, purpose
fuels a meaningful life.
Choosing between Private and Public Institutions
Tertiary education in South Africa currently comprises 17 state-owned Universities, 9 state-owned Universities of Technology, and 50 state-owned TVET colleges. While this may seem like a large number of available public institutions, capacity at each institution is limited. This means that not everyone who applies and meets the entrance criteria is automatically accepted.
Many students thus choose to obtain a qualification at a private institution. South African private higher education institutions or PHEIs, unlike their PHEI counterparts such as Harvard or Stanford in the US, are not allowed to call themselves universities, but may offer the same levels of qualifications as a public university.
At present, some 300 private providers of higher education currently help bolster the country’s tertiary capacity.
Choosing a Mode of Study
Nearly half of all higher education students study through distance learning.
Distance learning students generally have the option to take a little longer to complete their qualifications and save money not having to travel to or live near a campus. Distance learning students also have the time to hold full-time jobs.
While distance learning is a viable option in both the public and private education spaces, it requires discipline and dedication together with a fair amount of maturity and focus.
If you’re considering a private institution, keep the following in mind:
• Choose a Registered Institution
• Choose an Accredited Programme
• Choose a Well-Respected Institution
• Choose a Specialist
By Dr Naresh Veeran, Chief Commercial Officer of the Embury Institute for Higher Education, www.embury.ac.za.