Parliament alarmed as qualified matriculants outnumber university seats by thousands

As the class of 2025 prepares to embark on the next chapter of their academic career, Parliament’s Education Committees say they are concerned by the disjunction between the number of bachelor’s passes and available spaces at public universities. 
 
Chairperson of Parliament’s Basic Education Committee, Joy Maimela says collective work needs to be done with the Department of Higher Education to address the gap. 
 
Last year’s matric cohort produced 345 000 bachelor’s passes. 
 
Yet there are only around 235 000 first-year places available at state universities for the 2026 academic year. 
 
Maimela says many qualifying learners risk being excluded from opportunities as a result. 
 
"This growing gap underscores the urgent need for closer collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training to develop viable pathways for transitioning learners into post-school education."
 
But chairperson of parliament’s higher education committee, Tebogo Letsie, says learners should also consider studying at private institutions, but to be wary of whether their courses are accredited. 
 
"Some are bogus or fly-by-night institutions but masquerading as registered institutions. Parents and students should be vigilant and report such institutions."
 
Letsie says training, vocational, and community colleges should not be viewed as a last resort because they teach much-needed skills. 

Letsie also added that delays in releasing the matric results also delay academic institutions from formally accepting prospective students.