Johannesburg - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has called on matriculants who had not secured a place at a university by the time they received their results on January 5 to use the department’s central application clearing house.
The service was started to help alleviate the pressure on universities and colleges placed by late applicants and the influx of walk-in applicants at the beginning of the year.
The death of the mother of a prospective student during a stampede at the University of Johannesburg in 2012 focused attention on the problem.
The ministry said the service couldn’t guarantee a matriculant a place, but would ensure the applicant’s data was made available to institutions.
The service will be active in January and February. Applicants can call 0800 35 66 35 or go to cach.gov.za
Nzimande previously said the clearing house would serve as the precursor for the central application system, through which all post-school education applications would be done in future. The department has indicated that prospective students would pay a once-off “nominal fee” for the service.
An electronic system would sift through applications and direct them to the university that would be responsible for the selection and admission of students.
Meanwhile, the department launched the Khetha career development service earlier this month. Send an SMS or “please call me” to 072 204 5056 or an e-mail to [email protected]
- The Star