https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
South Africa|Engineering|Human Health Science|Natural Sciences|Skills Development|STEM|Veterinary Science|Department Of Higher Education And Training
||
south-africa|engineering|human-health-science|natural-sciences|skills-development|stem|veterinary-science|department-of-higher-education-and-training

Graduate targets missed for five out of eight selected degrees

3rd July 2026

     

Font size: - +

The Department of Higher Education and Training has university performance targets for qualifications; five of them involve science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects; the sixth is for qualified teachers, and the other two are for master’s degrees and doctorates (in all subjects). The targets for teachers, veterinary science graduates and doctorates were met in 2023, according to the latest available annual report. None of the other targets was met. 

The number of engineering graduates is particularly problematic because it has decreased every year for the past six years – from 13 714 graduates in 2019 to 10 805 in 2024. 

Yearly human health science graduates have also decreased since 2022 – from 9 646 in 2020 to 8 663 in 2024. 

Natural and physical science graduates are also below the target, but at least their number has increased from 9 121 in 2019 to 10 960 in 2024. 

The reason given by the department for the underperformance of these graduates lies in a shortage of matrics who pass the subjects needed to do those subjects at university, as well as budget cuts: “Many students who qualify to study at universities do not meet the requirements to pursue STEM,” states its annual report. 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Egoli Gas (Pty) Ltd
Egoli Gas (Pty) Ltd

As a reticulator, Egoli Gas provides natural gas to homes and businesses via underground pipes.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
ALBIS FLANGES (Pty) Ltd
ALBIS FLANGES (Pty) Ltd

ALBIS FLANGES — founded in 1965 — is a petro-chemical approved manufacturer of flanges and fittings in most grades of steel, listed with Sasol,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 03 July 2026
Magazine round up | 03 July 2026
3rd July 2026

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.035 0.086s - 131pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now