As the 2025 academic year begins, a sobering reality looms: between 50% and 60% of South African first-year university students drop out before completing their qualifications. This trend reflects not only personal challenges but also deep systemic issues with far-reaching social and economic consequences.
A Crisis with Economic Consequences
South Africa already faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. The dropout crisis compounds this, leaving many young people burdened with student debt but no degree, stifling their opportunities and widening inequality.
“Dropping out doesn’t happen overnight,” says Margi Boosey, Principal at The IIE’s Varsity College, IIE MSA and IIE Vega School. “It’s a slow decline that often begins before students even set foot on campus.”
Why First-Years Are Struggling
Boosey explains that the transition from high school to university is a major hurdle: “Academically, emotionally, and socially, many students simply aren’t prepared or getting the support they need to navigate this shift.”
Key drivers of the dropout rate include:
- Mismatched career choices: Many learners make subject choices in Grade 10 without proper guidance, limiting career pathways later.
- Mental health pressures: Stress, social overwhelm, and distance from family support create emotional strain.
- Systemic inequalities: Students from under-resourced schools often enter university underprepared, amplifying challenges.
- Financial strain: Tuition, accommodation, and living costs force some to juggle jobs or abandon studies entirely.
- Heavy workloads: Disciplines such as engineering have particularly high dropout rates, feeding into national skills shortages.
Support Structures That Make a Difference
Boosey believes the solution lies in holistic student development rather than focusing on academics alone. Initiatives that can reduce dropout rates include:
- Structured orientation programmes that ease the transition.
- Access to mental health services and mentorship.
- Smaller class sizes for more personalised learning.
- Stronger career guidance earlier in high school.
“University should be an engaging, mind-expanding experience,” she notes. “But without support structures, too much too soon can derail a young person’s journey.”
A Call for Collaboration
Tackling the dropout crisis requires collaboration between institutions, learners, and families. Support must address the whole student – from emotional wellbeing and financial stress to academic readiness.
As Boosey puts it: “If we want to see higher success rates, we need to ensure students are not only prepared for the classroom but for the full spectrum of challenges that come with university life.”
