Bridging programmes: gain, pain or all in vain

Abstract

South African higher education institutions find it increasingly difficult to deal with school-leavers who are ill-prepared for higher education. Institutions are obliged to meet national goals in terms of access and increased pass rates. However, the hard realities of educational backloop are difficult to deal with. In this article an access programme which has now been offered for 10 years is assessed. Although opponents of such programmes are of the opinion that it is not the responsibility of higher education to prepare students, this programme showed that, if done in an innovative way, it has a justifiable place in higher education.


South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.18(2) 2004: 59-75