The national Department of Education is responsible for education across the country as a whole. Private schools and higher education institutions have a fair amount of autonomy, but are under the broad authority of the national department. The central government provides a national framework for school policy, but administrative responsibility lies with the provinces. Power is further devolved to grass-roots level via elected school governing bodies, which have a significant say in the running of the schools.
South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF) recognizes three broad bands of education: General Education and Training, Further Education and Training, and Higher Education and Training.
School life spans 13 years or grades, from grade 0, otherwise known as grade R or “reception year”, through to grade 12 or “matric” — the year of matriculation. General Education and Training runs from grade 0 to grade 9. Under the South African Schools Act of 1996, education is compulsory for all South Africans from age 7 (grade 1) to age 15, or the completion of grade 9. General Education and Training also includes Adult Basic Education and Training.
Higher Education and Training, or tertiary education, includes education for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, certificates and diplomas, up to the level of the doctoral degree.
A matric endorsement is required for the study of university degrees, with a minimum of three subjects passed at the higher, rather than standard, grade, although some universities set additional academic requirements. A standard school-leaving South African senior certificate is sufficient for technical qualifications and diplomas.
South Africa has a vibrant higher education sector, with more than a million students enrolled in the country’s 24 state-funded tertiary institutions: 11 universities, five universities of technology and six comprehensive institutions.
These have recently been integrated, with the country’s former 36 universities and “technikons” being amalgamated into larger tertiary institutions. Higher education is also offered at hundreds of private institutions, which are registered with the Department of Education to confer specific degrees and diplomas. Many of South Africa’s universities are world-class academic institutions, at the cutting edge of research in certain spheres. Although subsidized by the state, the universities are autonomous, reporting to their own councils rather than government.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Students from across Africa and the world rank South Africa and its universities highly as a study destination. Fifteen years into democracy, the country has become the most popular place to study on the continent and is one of the Top 20 host nations for American students.
South Africa uses English as the primary language of instruction, charges lower fees than developed nations and has a lower cost of living. It also boasts a large higher education sector that is accessible and offers internationally recognized qualifications.
The number of foreign students at South Africa’s 23 public universities has recorded an impressive increase since 1994. Proportionately, the biggest growth in international student numbers in recent years has been from non-SADC African countries, as South Africa’s reputation as a quality higher education provider has spread northward: non-SADC African numbers nearly doubled in the past five years. Europe is the biggest ‘rest of world’ supplier, followed by Asia and North America.
International students have enhanced South African campuses with their different cultures and experiences, and by adding new dimensions to teaching and learning. South Africa benefits from the financial investments that foreign students make and from the international relations and links forged during their studies.
The internationalization of education is viewed as a valuable means of advancing communication and respect among people of different cultures, of developing scholarship, and of strengthening South Africa’s global position.
If you are looking at pursuing your studies in South Africa first visit www.studysa.co.za for information on all higher learning institutions in South Africa.