Following the trend by the majority of universities in the country with regards to walk-in admissions, the University of the Free State (UFS) has stated that it is unable to accommodate more first-year students in 2018 than the original enrollment target of approximately 8 000 students.
Director of Communications at the university, Lacea Loader, says the number of available spaces for first time entering students will only be known at the end of this week as the university awaits the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. Universities will not allow late walk-in applications, but prospective students can still apply online for programmes with available spaces.
“The UFS acknowledges that there will be Grade 12 learners who have passed matric in 2017, but have not yet secured a place at the university. The UFS will, where necessary, refer these students to the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH),” Loader said.
By the time of going to press, the spokesperson of the Central University of Technology had not yet responded to questions posed to him with regards to the university’s readiness in dealing with walk-in admissions.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) continues to call on academically deserving but financially needy students to walk in at their universities of choice and apply. This call by the firebrand party comes after President Jacob Zuma’s announcement last month that education in 2018 would be free for households earning less than R350 000 per annum.
Meanwhile, during a media briefing in Johannesburg this afternoon, Minister of Higher Education, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, slammed the EFF for the statements made, saying walk-in admissions would create disorder with the current registrations and would prove to be an impossible task. She further cautioned students to consider the criteria to be met, saying that matters are not as simple as the EFF leader, Julius Malema, makes them sound.
Pulane Choane/Courant News
