MINISTER for Higher Education, Malakai Tabar says the increase in the minimum grading point average (GPA) in some tertiary institutions this year was created systematically.
He said this was one of the reasons why people and especially parents misunderstood the increase in GPA and the selection process.
The number of Grade 12 graduates has been increasing at a faster rate than the number of TESAS (Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme) scholarships offered by the Government, adding that the existing holding capacities in our tertiary institutions are limited and the competition to enter into those spaces is very high so the minimum GPA was based on the competition.
Tabar says a student’s qualifying GPA did not automatically lead to their program admission or a TESAS scholarship rather, a student’s qualifying GPA means they are eligible for program admission, not guaranteed admission. Final program admission is based on the institutions’ capacity and the student’s subject combination, merit and first choice compared to other students.
He said depending on the number of students applying for the program at an institution, the minimum requirements also change with respect to spaces available and the number of students who applied.
The other reason was the combination of the subjects studied at the secondary and national high schools. If two students got the same score the same in all subjects accept that one scored a B in math B and the other scored an B in Math A, preference would be given to the one who studied Math A at secondary school.
It all depends on the current situation of high number of grade 12 graduates, limited spaces available in tertiary institutions and the subsequent higher competition created which is the reason why, they are trying to introduce the open university concept next year so that the problem of competition can be addressed minimised.