A recent report released by Statistics South Africa shows that university graduation numbers are on the rise.

Evidence also shows that the number of students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds studying at the country’s 26 public higher education institutions is on the increase, partly due to the support which the government gives through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

The number of students graduating from local public universities had risen from 165 995 in 2012 to 203 078 in 2016.

Of the 975837 total students enrolled in higher education institutions in 2016, 72% or 701482 of them – were black Africans, while 6% were coloured and 5% Indian. More females – 58.1% of all students – were also studying at universities, compared to 41.9% of males. Gender parity is at the core of our transformation process, as of today nearly 60% of all students studying at higher education institutions are females.

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