Around 60% of freshmen in South Africa drop out after their first semester, according to an educational expert, who stressed that reasons range from financial pressure to the lack of adequate support.
Mala Suriah, Managing Director of the company Fundi, specialized in education financing and management, said that the figure highlights a “crisis that often remains invisible once the initial wave of admissions has passed.”
She noted that thousands of students secure places at universities and higher education institutions every year, but a growing number now faces the risk of dropping out within just a few months.
According to Suriah, tuition fees are merely “an entry ticket,” as students quickly face additional challenges, including housing, transport, and food costs, as well as modern digital requirements essential for academic success, such as smart devices and internet subscriptions.
She pointed out that students relying on alternative funding sources, including private scholarships, loans, or self-financing, often receive less support, leaving them unable to cover basic living expenses.
The expert further highlighted that students also face academic pressures and emotional challenges linked to adapting to university life, in addition to family-related pressures, particularly those coming from rural backgrounds or under-resourced schools.
She added that students “suddenly move from one educational environment to another that demands maturity and preparedness,” noting that this transition places them under significant emotional strain and initially leaves many unable to cope with university curricula and teaching methods, which differ greatly from school education.
Suriah concluded that “many become victims of depression due to family separation and the absence of a supportive environment,” underlining the importance of psychological and social factors in students’ academic journeys.
South Africa’s gross higher education enrollment rate stands at 22%, well below the 30% target set by the National Development Plan for 2030.
According to data from the Higher Education and Training Ministry, more than 500,000 young South Africans meet the academic requirements each year to access post-school education, but fewer than half secure places in public universities.
- Source: MAP