The Attrition Crisis in South African Universities. How to Keep Students on the Graduation Path

Abstract

The attrition of students is a persistent and seemingly intractable problem of higher education in South Africa. Less than 15 percent of a cohort of matrics get into higher education where about 50 percent of students drop out of university in their first year and a mere 15 percent of them complete their degrees in the allotted time. Predictably the attrition of students from previously disadvantaged population groups may result in further racial and socioeconomic disparity in future generations – a concern to both education authorities and students. Using focus groups’ discussions, this study attempts to understand the perceptions of randomly selected education stakeholders of reasons for attrition of students particularly at the UKZN, South Africa. Exclusion on academic grounds and financial difficulties are not wholly to blame, other reasons including feeder high schools, life events, and a set of onset of youth sundry needs are equally considerable hurdles on the graduation path of students. A holistic approach in the educational policy making process run in parallel to appropriately targeted educational investments which should operate like the financial crisis bailout is imperative to keep students on the graduation path and reverse the trend of attrition.