Higher Education Access and Outcomes for the 2008 National Matric Cohort

Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers No.16/2016

122 Pages Posted: 28 May 2017

See all articles by Hendrik van Broekhuizen

Hendrik van Broekhuizen

Stellenbosch University

Servaas van der Berg

Stellenbosch University

Heleen Hofmeyr

Stellenbosch University

Date Written: May 25, 2017

Abstract

This study uses a unique dataset to investigate university access, throughput, and dropout for the 2008 national matric cohort. The findings show that university access in South Africa is limited, even among learners who perform relatively well in matric. In addition, those who do gain access to university often take a long time to complete their studies, with many never completing at all. As a result, only a select minority of matric learners manage to obtain university qualifications. Significant inequalities in university outcomes between race groups and across geographical space also remain evident. However, the results from the analysis suggests that observed patterns of university access and university success are strongly influenced by school results. The weak school system has a major influence on who reaches matric, and how they perform in matric. This, and particularly the achievement of Bachelor passes, explains much of the differences in university outcomes by race, gender and province.

Keywords: higher education, university access, post-school transitions, inequality, development, South Africa

JEL Classification: I21,I23, I24

Suggested Citation

van Broekhuizen, Hendrik and Van der Berg, Servaas and Hofmeyr, Heleen, Higher Education Access and Outcomes for the 2008 National Matric Cohort (May 25, 2017). Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers No.16/2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2973723 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2973723

Hendrik Van Broekhuizen

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Servaas Van der Berg (Contact Author)

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7602
South Africa

Heleen Hofmeyr

Stellenbosch University

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, 7602
South Africa

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