Over 500 000 post-school study places available, says Nzimande

There are more than 500 000 post-school education opportunities available for successful matriculants this year, Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande says.

In Pretoria on Thursday, Nzimande said there are opportunities for the 162 374 who got university exemptions, the 179 619 who are eligible for diploma studies and the 100 486 who are eligible for higher certificate studies.

“In 2017, our public universities will provide access to about 197 400 new entrants,” Nzimande said. He included three new universities – Sol Plaatje University, the University of Mpumalanga and the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.

Nzimande said of the 197 400 new university entrants this year, about 63 950 students will enrol to study scarce skills including engineering, physical sciences, human health and veterinary science programmes.

The minister said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges play a pivotal role in addressing South Africa’s skills needs.

As a result three new campuses will come into operation during the course of this year – Thabazimbi Campus at the Waterberg TVET college in Limpopo, the Bambanani Campus at uMfolozi TVET college in KwaZulu-Natal and Nkandla A Campus at uMfolozi TVET College in KwaZulu-Natal.

This year 207 510 new entrant opportunities will be provided by TVET colleges.

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