The University of the Free State (UFS) has called on all students who meet the admission requirements but were unable to apply for study at the University in 2017, to try their luck with online registration.
In a short response to Bloemfontein Courant, the University’s spokesperson, Lacea Loader, said that these students will be assisted to apply for online programmes with available spaces. Online registration for all students has opened on Monday 8 January.
Reiterating a statement she had made earlier on in the week, Loader also stated that based on the University’s enrolment target for 2018, it can only register approximately 8000 first-year students. She further went on to state that thus far, the university is satisfied with the registration process.
Meanwhile, spokesperson at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Dan Maritz told OFM News that they have received about 11 000 new applications. He added that about 3000 were tentatively admitted. According to Maritz, there is, however, only space for about 4000 first-year students. He said the situation on campus remains calm despite the traffic of prospective students.
Chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the province, Kgotso Morapela, has confirmed that all universities, as well as TVET colleges in the province, are on board with providing assistance to learners where necessary.
Morapela also stated that so far, no problems have been encountered and that the EFF in the province has placed several of its members at these universities to “facilitate” the walk-in process. “We have our people there and we watch the students as they go to inquire. When they return, we ask them how it went and if they look frustrated or sound confused,we hold them by the hand and go and ask again until they get clarity on whether or not they can register,” Morapela said. He further stated that the publicity on walk-in admissions was exaggerated as “walk-in admissions have always been happening and it is not a new thing”. “What we have been doing is asking students who meet the admission criteria but did not register to go to schools where they would like to study and then inquire about their study choices. While schools do have an enrolment target, as yet we have not heard one student being turned away because programmes are full. Our call to universities has been that if a student is academically deserving, they must take that student. If classes become full, it simply gives them (the institution) more reason to approach the government to ask for more resources,” Morapela said. He believes that ultimately will teach government to budget and provision appropriately for higher education as they will see that there is a demand for education.
Speaking on this matter of walk-in and online registration, the Department of Higher Education and Training released a media statement on Monday, which said that while online registration remains the primary method for application, some institutions have set up mechanisms for late applications. The department recommends that all prospective students use the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) for late applications. In the statement, it also stated that the only students who would not pay any registration fees would be those at TVET colleges and those in universities who qualified for NSFAS. Students who do not qualify for NSFAS funding will have to pay the registration fees upfront.
Pulane Choane
[email protected]
