Central Applications Office: University readiness begins at school level
The CAO processes the applications of all first-time entry undergraduate candidates to KwaZulu-Natal’s four public universities, three TVET colleges and 13 private colleges.
Education stakeholders need to forge meaningful long-term partnerships with schools and assist with decision-making about courses of study much earlier than at the point of application or registration. This was emphasised by George van der Ross, CEO of the Central Applications Office (CAO) at the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) which was recently held at the Hilton Hotel.
The CAO processes the applications of all first-time entry undergraduate candidates to KwaZulu-Natal’s four public universities, three TVET colleges and 13 private colleges. “We do not simply process applications. We make dreams come true. We don’t simply capture applications, we capture dreams,” the CEO said.
Outlining key 2016/2017 statistics and insights, Mr van der Ross detailed that the organisation processed more than 140, 000 applications in the past financial year. He challenged how the education system is readying pupils for studying further after matriculating, emphasising that the transformation of education does not simply mean changes to teaching, the curriculum and the manner in which research is conducted. Instead, it needs to include tighter measures to ensure university readiness at a school level.
To this end, the CAO has dedicated resources over the past year to informing and educating grade 12’s about the tertiary options available to them in KZN. The organisation has also expanded its scope to include grade nines to assist them with subject choices, which in turn impacts on the degrees, diplomas and higher certificates they have access to once matriculating.
The CAO’s career fair schedule gives preference to schools in rural areas of the province as these are generally educationally under-resourced and often lack specialist life orientation (LO) teachers and access to information.
Guest speaker and award-winning Carte Blanche journalist, Devi-Sankaree Govender, delivered an empowering speech entitled, ‘Create Your Own Possibility- From the Canefields of KZN to Carte Blanche’. The speech detailed her inspirational journey from a young, UKZN-graduate to being at the forefront of national, broadcast investigative journalism.
In a fitting tribute to Women’s Month, Devi-Sankaree explained with humour, anecdotes and commentary, the importance of being yourself and making it on your own terms. Describing herself as a ‘working mum who’s proudly South African’, Govender dispelled myths about TV and explained how she harnessed pure grit and determination to make impactful strides in her phenomenal journey.
She urged the education stakeholders present at the event to continue to help make a difference because ‘an education means an upliftment of an entire community, not just an individual’. After formalities for the day concluded, all guests were treated to a delicious buffet lunch.
