Gr 12 pass rate puts institutions of higher learning under pressure
While the increase in matric pass rates is a reason to celebrate, local institutions' limited capacity and selective admission processes have left many students scrambling for options.

POLOKWANE –Ā The surge in matriculants qualifying for university and college admissions in the province has created mounting pressure on institutions of higher learning.
The provincial pass rate increased from 79.5% in 2023 to 85.1% in 2024, while the national rate rose to 87.3%, reflecting a 4.4 percentage point improvement.
With this rise, more students are expected to seek late applications or walk-in opportunities at institutions of higher learning, however, many institutions have limited options for late admissions, prioritising online applications for selected programmes.
Institution updates on late applications:
University of Limpopo (UL):
ā Only selected courses are open for late applications via the website.
ā Registrations for returning students, which began on January 13, will close tomorrow.
ā Late registrations for first-time students will take place from February 3 to 7.
Capricorn TVET College: The institution has closed its portal for the first semester.
ā Late applications and walk-ins are not accepted, but applications for the Engineering NATED programme will reopen between February and March.
ā Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) ā Polokwane Campus: Late applications for selected courses are available online until the end of January.
Capricorn TVET College reports having processed an overwhelming number of applications and has selected candidates based on available resources. Spokesperson Madire Mashabela ā confirmed that 166 applicants received offers at the Polokwane Campus and 675 at Seshego.
UL also faces the daunting task of handling a significant number of applications. The university has urged prospective students to stay informed via their website regarding available programmes and admission requirements.
The increase in qualifying students was highlighted during an event held at The Ranch Resort, where Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya announced district and circuit-specific results following the national release of the 2024 Senior Certificate Examination results.
While the increase in matric pass rates is a reason to celebrate, the limited capacity and selective admission processes of local institutions have left many students scrambling for options.
Aspiring students are urged to act quickly and leverage online portals for the best chance of securing placement.
