Selecting Students for Mathematics and Science

The challenge facing higher education in South Africa The selection of students for higher education is a critical issue facing South African higher education institutions. Recent political and legislative changes in South Africa require that such selection be fair and transparent. Many institutions have to cope with applicants whose backgrounds are unknown to them, leading to the challenge of selecting disadvantaged students with a high probability of succeeding in further study. Student-programme fit profoundly affects the quality of teaching and learning at higher education institutions. The South African higher education community can no longer afford the financial aid and emotional cost of admitting large numbers of unsuccessful students to such institutions. Viable solutions to the problem of selecting potential students from growing numbers of disadvantaged applicants have not yet been found.

1. Introduction
2. Selection for Higher Education
3. Educational Disadvantage
4. Fair, Effective and Efficient Selection
5. Predictors of Academic Achievement
6. The UNIFY Selection Research Project
7. Evaluation and Development of the UNIFY Selection Mechanism
8. Evaluation of Other Possible Predictors
9. Summary of the Research Results
10. Recommended Selection Guidelines