Matrics urged to explore options
With universities full, FET colleges provide alternative
THOUSANDS of matriculants have been queuing at universities hoping for a place to study but not all of them were accepted due to a lack of space.
In the Eastern Cape, Fort Hare University declared last year already all undergraduate courses were full for 2013. Earlier this week Walter Sisulu University reported 13 853 applications the institution was in the process of finalising. Walk-in applications there closed yesterday.
To combat this problem the higher educational department has again urged matriculants who did not get accepted at universities to opt for studying at Further Education and Training Colleges (FET).
“There are a number of options for matriculants who did not get into universities such as enrolling at a FET college. There are also the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) where they can get learnerships and some can get apprenticed,” said the department’s spokesperson, Vuyelwa Qinga.
The Saturday Dispatch spoke to some FET colleges that were still open for registration to find out which courses were available.
The principal at MSC Business College in East London, Lilian Lwana, said they had a variety of courses available for Grade 12 graduates.
“Registration never closes at this institution and we have new exciting courses that will ensure employment in the labour market,” Lwana said.
The courses include marketing, tourism, information management, public relations and many more.
The college recently initiated a recruitment agency network which liaises with government, the public and private sectors to place their students in jobs. “When there are available vacancies in some of the companies we liaise with, we interview our own students and recommend them for the posts.”
East Cape Midlands (ECM) FET College in Uitenhage will only be closing their registration for walkin students at the end of this month.
Secretary Valencia Williams said they had scores of applicants and hundreds were still coming in.
“To avoid disappointment potential students need to apply as soon as possible.”
EMC is also an accredited provider for learnership and skills courses as well as various corporate training programmes.
Ikhala FET in Queenstown has extended registration to next week. — arethal@dispatch.co.za