The University of Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Education has attracted a significant number of first-year students enrolling for the 2024 academic year. The varsity confirmed that those accepted met the required threshold, an admission point score (APS) of 30 or more.
The prospective students passed their matric year with a bachelor’s pass. A bachelor’s pass means a candidate attained a score of at least 40% for their home language, 50% (level 4) for four other high credit subjects excluding Life Orientation, and 30% for two other subjects.
The university’s faculty offers the following programmes: foundation phase (Gr. R to Gr. 3), intermediate phase (Gr. 4 to Gr. 6), senior phase (Gr. 7 to Gr. 9), and further education and training phase (Gr. 10 to Gr. 12). Prof. Loyiso Jita is the dean of this faculty.
According to the university, the number of applications received was 138 974, and indicated that the total number of accepted first-year students was 2 111.
The university explained that the accepted number of first-year students was the total pool that qualified for admission from which only 1 410 may be admitted in line with the approved institutional enrolment plan.
The high interest shown by students aspiring to pursue a teaching qualification appears to be a comforting prospect to the university. Last year the university’s Faculty of Education was reported to have experienced a “critical” shortage of first-year students and seniors who had registered. This was reported to be the first time the faculty experienced a shortfall.
The university stated that student registration for the faculty would be ongoing until 9 February. The institution revealed it received an overwhelming number of applications, 240 393 first-year students, after the matric results were announced on Thursday, 18 January. According to the university, only 8 100 would be accepted to study at the three campuses, namely Qwaqwa and the other two in Bloemfontein.
All first-year student curriculum advice and registration will be from 5 to 9 February, with classes to commence on 12 February.
Senior students’ academic year started with guidance from faculties on Monday, 22 January. Registration began on Monday, 29 January, continuing until 12 February. Meanwhile, the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, said applications received for teaching exceed the institutions’ enrolment capacity.
According to the institution, the number of applications received for foundation phase teaching was 32 640.
