From school to higher education?: factors affecting the choices of grade 12 learners

Abstract

Despite wide-spread changes in South Africa, participation in higher education has stayed below the 20% benchmark for middle-income countries. Why are technikons still more popular than universities? Why have enrolment figures not increased significantly after ten years of freedom? And why do Grade 12 learners make the study choices they do?

This study addresses two key objectives in the National Plan for Higher Education: to increase participation in HE and to shift the balance in enrolments from Humanities towards Business and Commerce, as well as Science, Engineering and Technology. Drawing mainly on a survey conducted across all nine provinces in South Africa, it critically examines the socio-economic profile of learners, their intention to enter higher education, and the central factor affecting the type of institution and choice of study.

From School to Higher Education is essential material for those involved in higher education planning and policy-making at both national and institutional level.