Private sector can reduce first-year failures
HALF of this year’s 500 000 first year university students will fail their final exams. For many it will be because of living conditions not conducive to studying. John Schooling, MD of STAG African, says the solution rests with public/private sector partnerships.
The founder of the leading student accommodation group elaborates, ‘Despite the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) doing its level best under extremely difficult circumstances, between R44 and R58-billion is required to meet the current residence shortage. Within the next five years a further R120-billion will be required.
“This amount can only be leveraged off the balance sheets and resources of our pension funds and private sector companies.
“The cost of supplying the needed accommodation is huge, but the cost of not supplying it, is devastating. If 50 percent of our students fail half the DHET budget is wasted.”
Living conditions at the less affluent universities are dire.
He adds, “It is not uncommon for as many as six to 10 students to share a tiny room with no electricity or running water.
“Accommodation is often far from campus and the areas where they can afford to stay are not conducive to academic excellence.”
Yet, first year students in good oncampus accommodation have a four out of five chance of passing.
“South Africa’s throughput at universities (the percentage of graduates versus the total university’s population) is 18 percent against a global average of 25 percent. By providing good accommodation, our throughput could increase to 23 percent.
“Presently too much energy is extended on survival. Family and even community dreams are shattered. The psychological impact of overcoming every hurdle to reach university and then failing through no fault of one’s own is devastating.”
A large university campus, which accommodates as many as 20 000 students, is an intimidating environ- ment for a student from a rural village. Hence it is vital that residences do more than provide a place to sleep.
Schooling elaborates, “A well-designed residence can with very careful planning provide a shared space that nurtures a sense of belonging even among students of diverse backgrounds. It must facilitate a sense of community that is recognised and cared for.
“On-campus accommodation is not just about studying it’s about meeting interesting people from all walks of life, having access to the library, playing sport and having a good time while being educated.
“How is this possible when everyday becomes about survival? For these students, the dream of success diminishes fast.
“We South Africans have an incredible obligation to ensure that our students at our tertiary institutions are given the best opportunity to pass. Having a bed in a well-managed residence is critical.
“The reality of a lack of accommodation at our universities and universities around the world is no one’s fault. It has arisen because of a massive belief that a tertiary education is the key to a better future.”