CAMPUS NEWS
Higher education a right, not a privilege
Annette Willemse
“Higher education is not a right, but a privilege. This argument may not be politically correct or even the mainstream way of thinking, but it’s the truth”. This was the
message by Dr. Theuns Eloff, Vice Chancellor of the
North-West University (NWU) during the official welcoming of the new intake of first year students on the
Vaal Triangle Campus. The event, which saw more than
a thousand first year students and their parents in attendance, signified the highlight of the campus’s Welcoming and Orientation Programme for first year students
and highlighted the various support structures available to ensure not only academic success, but also the
seamless transition from high school to university.
In his address the Campus Rector, Prof. Thanyani Mariba, further elaborated on the Vice Chancellor’s statement by indicating that the campus received more than
5 000 applications for the 2014 academic year. Though
so many applications were received, the reality is that
only about 1 900 students could be accommodated and
according to Prof. Mariba, those who were accepted
represent the “cream of the crop”. He urged the first year
students to make the most of their post-school opportunity by studying diligently and obtain their qualifications
in due course so that they can give way to the next generation of students.
Professor Mariba alluded to parents that the NWU Vaal
offers students a truly unique study environment, since
the campus is situated within a proclaimed nature reserve. Apart from the unmatched environmental setting,
the campus ascribes to the highest levels of academic
excellence and a staff component that is passionate
about service delivery – be it within the realm of the
campus community or the region as a whole. “Like all
things in life, the proof of the pudding lies in the eating,”
Prof. Mariba jokingly said and added that the campus
boasts an overall pass rate of 84%, which is considerably higher than the national average of 70%.
Challenges facing higher education in South Africa
With achievements, also come trials, as Dr. Eloff describes the challenges faced by higher education institutions in South Africa. One such challenge is matriculants
who are not ready for higher education. To address such a challenge,
the North-West University has put in
place a variety of support systems to
aid first year students to cope with the
pressures and workload that comes
with tertiary education. The support
systems have been essential in keeping the first year drop-out rate at the
North-West University to a minimum
of 12%; whereas the national rate is
between 20-30%.
Another challenge is that of student
funding. “As a University, we are very thankful to the
government for the fun