is matric all its cracked up to be

i cannot understand why our country fails to steer school leavers into learning a trade. why do institutions like the university of Johannesburg, continue to entertain these school leavers, who don't even have university exemptions.yes you want more black students passing through the system, however the education system, has been adjusted, (and not with great success i might add,)..so putting ill qualified kids into university does this country a greater disservice in my opinion of course.

the way i understand things:, tertiary education is a privilege not a right. To qualify for university entrance, one has to be a scholar of excellence, be able to afford tuition, or qualify for a scholarship or bursary, and if one did not qualify, then at least hold down a job, that helps you pay your way through university.why this feeling of entitlement, and demand for things, we are not willing to work our asses off, to have, all this attitude breeds is my contempt (understandably..no one gives a damn about that), however where do we get off expecting the bells and whistles without having to work to get it.

university entrance has become an unruly scrum, to gain admittance. university is a right not a privilege, and someone else has to foot the bill. the caliber of student is definitely not worth that sacrifice, and more importantly the attitude of these supposed students leaves much to be desired. they are an unruly, disrespectful mob, looking for the easy way out, quality education, dedication to education, hard work and enterprise are not at the top of the list. if 33 and a 1/3% is the pass rate, it is certainly obvious why we have an attitude failure. under these circumstances, what caliber of academics are we churning out, our research capabilities and input in the sciences across the spectrum, fails to excite or ignite any real interest.

while i am all for levelling the education playing fields and providing opportunities, to those who never had any, does that mean, that regardless of capacity, universities, should allow people in, i believe, that by doing this we are reducing the class and caliber of our academics into mediocrity, is that how we perceive the future of our country? mediocre.

surely we should be bolstering, technical colleges and the like, so we can increase people in the skilled trades , why has plumbing, or being an electrician or mechanic become taboo, these are all highly skilled professions, which in some cases are more financially lucrative, then being a lawyer as an example, yet most matriculants if asked want to go to law school. hell who needs another lawyer.

but a trades person with ethics and pride in his or her work, would certainly be most welcome, and definitely deserving of our utmost respect,...lets see what the class of 2010 results in...a capital F for failure, or perhaps in and amongst the miscreants, there will be a huge A for achievement and dedication..lets see