A bachelor’s pass doesn't guarantee university admission, says Manamela

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela admits tertiary institutions have limited spaces and cannot accommodate the number of school leavers who achieved a bachelor passes.

Nearly 46% of the matric class of 2025 earned bachelor passes.

However, Manamela said this does not automatically guarantee a university placement.

On Thursday, the minister briefed the media on the state of readiness of the Higher Education sector.

The country’s post school system has limited capacity with only 535,000 funded spaces across universities, TVET colleges and skills programmes.

This comes as more than 650,000 learners passed their matric.

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And while matric results have reached new record highs, it is increasing the demand for placements at tertiary institutions, putting pressure on the system.

Despite this, Manamela has denied that the system is failing learners.

"We are going to have a fight this year with Basic Education, a very friendly fight, because categorising a pass as bachelor essentially means that you are creating an expectation which our rules in universities do not necessarily operate by."

Manamela said this means some learners will have to go the route of private universities.

"Meeting an APS [Admission Point Score] score does not necessarily guarantee someone a space for that programme. A bachelor’s pass does not guarantee admission to a university. We must communicate these options clearly to students and families."

The minister has started talks with the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube about how to remedy the situation and urged students and parents to consider alternative study options.