Studying in 2021? Top tips for this year’s matrics

Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown caused much upheaval for the Matric Class of 2020 as the world looks very different today, compared to when they entered the most important school year, six months ago.

But while the world around them has changed drastically, one decision remains the same: what they are going to study and where, come 2021?

Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, says although things are different, Gr 12 learners should continue working towards realising their dreams, which includes weighing their options carefully and deciding on the best course of action in furthering their education.

“The process and considerations involved in making higher education decisions have changed as a result of the way the world has changed, and Gr 12 learners and their parents need to take that into consideration,” she said.

In previous years, prospective students would be urged to attend open days, visit campuses to speak to student advisors and faculty staff and connect with current and former students. “It goes without saying that this physical legwork is no longer an option in the form that it used to be in the past.”

But all is not lost, as quality institutions will now be hosting virtual Open Days, which will allow prospective students to actually ‘visit’ more campuses, and give them quicker access to advisors by scheduling online appointments. Additionally, some institutions will allow on-campus visits, by appointment.

Nola says there are three things one should consider when considering higher education options:

The ability of an institution to provide online offerings.

“As many students realised during lockdown learning, good contact education does not necessarily translate to a good online education. This means that historic ideas of what made a good, ‘prestigious’ institution have been turned on their head,” Payne said.

She advises ensuring that the institution you opt for, will be able to offer a superior education regardless of delivery method.

Payne says some of the questions to ask in an effort to determine an institution’s competence in terms or their online offering, include:

1. Whether the institution has an online learning platform,
2. How the institution uses the platform for teaching and learning,
3. How lecturers teach using the online platform,
4. What students are expected to do on the online platform,
5. What resources students need for online learning; and
6. What statistics show in relation to attendance, submission of assignments, and student progress during lockdown.

“Obviously if an institution doesn’t have an online platform, or if their online platform did not effectively support the continuation of learning, one should think twice about opting for such an institution going forward,” Payne says.

“So be sure to interrogate all your choices to get a clear sense of what they did for their existing students these past few months, how they assisted those students whose circumstances required additional support, and whether their students were able to adapt to the new environment.”

An institution’s focus on work-integrated learning

“Given the massive loss of jobs in the wake of Covid-19 and global lockdowns, opportunities are going to be limited in coming years. When hiring picks up again, employers will want to be very clear that they are appointing graduates who are able to do the job and not just have paper credentials to show for their time at university.”

Payne says this means that you should ask institutions how their curricula are connected to the real world of work, how closely they work with industry to ensure you engage with relevant, updated learning material, and how work-integrated learning is incorporated in the curriculum.

“The additional benefit of work-integrated learning, is that this also provides students with a portfolio of evidence upon graduation, which gives them additional collateral during the job hunt,” Payne says.

The registration and accreditation states of an institution and qualification

Payne says the need to ensure that an institution is properly registered and accredited is of utmost importance, stating that bogus colleges and qualifications have been a challenge in South Africa in the past, and one expects unscrupulous operators will continue to prey on the most vulnerable in future.

“This is why you need to start considering your options now, and not leave your decisions about your future too late, when you might be desperate to further your studies but find yourself with fewer options. Give yourself sufficient time to investigate the institutions and qualifications that interest you and weed out those which will cost you time and money without providing the required return on investment.”

Payne further advised Gr 12 learners to start investigating their options without delay by spending a little time every week working on a higher education checklist.

“You might not be sure what you want to register for, or how to connect with institutions, but good institutions will have systems and advisors in place to help you, you just have to reach out.”

Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).