You are right Ben, there is a big gap... now... And how many of the students getting in now are in possession of 5,6 or even 8 distinctions ? a rather small percentage I am afraid given the fact that the Universities are now required to host bridging courses for so many first year students every single year to get them up to a entry level standard.

it was previously impossible to accepted into an engineering program without higher grade maths and science in the top percentile, this is no longer the case given that they require a mathematics bridging course for first years to even understand their first class.

I am sorry but given the constant lowering of standards of the Matric is a distinction even really worth anything anymore ? Rather then reform the system the Ministry of Education simply lowers the overall standard to allow a higher pass rate. The curve is monstrous, you have to admit that.

Can you really deny the standards are not what they were 10 years ago ?

That being said, there are those exceptional few that shine... every year they are held up as bastions of fortitude by the education departments with stories of hardship and perseverance... They, through their own hard work have set an example that will unfortunately not be followed by many, should they be rewarded, absolutely, without question.
Should those who have the same circumstance or better but haven't made the same effort be rewarded equally ? I think not, for they have reached for a bag of excuses rather then the stars like their betters.

When i was in std a i could not read or write let alone calculate, but now my son is in grade 1 can do all those things with ease. Comparing that sh*t to what my child learns today, life is better.

have you ever opened the books of these pupils and see what they study. Some of the words i encountered them while in tertiary.

feesmustfall i support that too.

And now you are all grown up and you still can't write.

On 2015-10-29 21:18:41 Myname said:
Comparing that sh*t to what my child learns today, life is better.

Indeed sir?

Q.E.D !

Gent :
"And now you are all grown up and you still can't write."

LOL

My morning laugh. And this day will be better. Thanks

Ben asked the question regarding the distinctions. I am a little out of the school system, but I remember in my days we had the choice of taking Higher Grade or Lower Grade subjects. We had 6 subjects, and the exams on Higher Grade were 400 points in total. Which would give you a total of 2,400 points.

When calculating your average, the total was divided by 2,100 (you could have three subjects on Higher Grade).

That would give you a higher average percentage.

The reasoning I believe was that the higher grade was more difficult so that 60% on higher grade would be equal to 80% on Lower grade.

Never quite understood that.

But in recent times Universities would look at the students' range of subjects, and then suggest an extra year to prepare for the much higher standards for first years.

Even after completing an extra year, the fail rate is still in the region of 45% for first year students.

To let fees for tertiary education fall, would put the Universities squarely under the control of Government, and I can guarantee you that a dramatic lowering of standards will be implemented. Just to get more "graduates" into the job market.

I am advocating for the independance of Universities from any Government interference. It will end badly.

Even students doing Honours or Masters degrees must go back to University early in January to do an additional maths/stats course , which they must pass, before they are allowed into the first class of the honours/masters degree.

Universities , please keep up the standards. I am proud of my tertiary education, and I worked really hard for it. To be lowered like the school standards would be so disappointing.

Not everyone can go to University, for a number of reasons. I was fortunate, but there is always the Unisa option, where you can work and study. It takes a little longer, but it will also teach you work ethic. And if you are paying for it out of your hard earned cash, you will be more inclined to not waste time and make sure that you can pass.

I just need to relate a little story : some time ago a WG came to me for assistance as she wanted to study. I helped her obtain the information and even offered to help her pay for the studies at Unisa. When she saw the mountain of work , she promptly decided to opt for another career, namely back into the industry on a full time basis. Easy money , easy working hours. But she missed the boat completely. And now she is an alcoholic. An education would have given her the opportunity to build a career. Not that a career can not be made by being a WG, but we all know that it is limited. Only a very few will still operate at age 40, and making enough money to survive. My heart goes out to those not providing for their later life. But maybe a little off topic.

The point I am just making is that not everyone is a student. And to study is also not the be all and end all. Pilots as a point in fact : Overpaid and underworked, and if I look at the idiots that dropped out of everything they ever tried, just to become pilots, and earning megabucks I must add. I am sometimes appalled , but good luck to them. There is a demand for pilots now, therefore the mega salaries.

By dropping fees for University, many more people would want to study. They are not necessarily student material. But it would be just something to go and do and waste more money before joining the ranks of the working class. But then again, what is our unemployment figure now ? 25,5% or roughly 11 million people ?

Should we call the criminals lounging in jail part of the employed ? They are getting up in the morning, just like us, having breakfast, saying goodbye to the kid, and then go and plan their next raid. If we put them as employed , because technically they are working, just not legally, what would the impact be our stats ? Also , Working Girls, are they part of the unemployment figures ?

And as forsupporting feesmustfall, I guess your calculating skills have not improved either.

While the destructive nature of the demonstrations cannot be condoned, one must try understand the frustrations of our youth, trying to better themselves. We don't come from a normal background/history and the injustices of the past have not been re-addressed by our government. After all the promises, the vast majority of our disadvantaged population are still in a similar position they were when freedom was achieved and a better life promised. I hear many say, then vote the ANC out but one cant expect the majority to suddenly vote for a party that many perceive to be part of the past instead of the party that liberated us. The other option is the EFF and many are skeptical of Julius and his gang, something akin to going "from the frying pan into the fire". Having said that, Juju will enjoy increasing support at the polls but the ANC will continue to rule, which is not a bad thing if only a leader would emerge who will galvanize the resources of our country and rule for the people and our country's future. One that would strive for anti-corruption, efficient governance, higher productivity that will inevitably lead to cheaper or free education for all. It seems that i am stating the obvious but that's what it actually is. The tactics of students may be unsavoury and undesirable but we should embrace the youths' thirst for knowledge, not condemn it !

Damn, 10 pages of interesting debate!

Now, if every WG pays over 40% of her income to SARS, how many kids can we put through varsity?

Just saying!!!

Peterb, they would most probably have to increase their fees to cover the 40%,thus we will end up paying more for visiting them.At least it will be voluntary and not like paying direct taxes.