The effectiveness of the extended curriculum programme in the electrical engineering department at a University of Technology in the Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Students who are not academically strong are finding it very difficult to enter a tertiary institution. The requirements are of a high standard which results in many students not having the option to further their education. The government recognised that there was a problem in this area and that the country as a whole is lacking in people with the necessary skills to improve the country and its economy. The introduction of the Extended Curriculum Programme has given students the opportunity to enter a tertiary institution and prove to themselves that with a little guidance and an academically lengthened year they will be able to use their skills to improve their situations. The ECP has been integrated into universities in various departments allowing for a diverse amount of options for the students to choose from. The introduction of the ECP has levelled the playing fields and allows students from all walks of life to enter an institution; however it must be noted that there are minimum requirements which are determined by the students’ academic history. Many a success story has emerged from the ECP. The course is spread over four years as opposed to three and it allows the student to settle into the tertiary lifestyle. It might take a little longer but the aims and goals have the same outcomes. The aim of this study to see how effective the ECP is in the Electrical Engineering Department at a University of Technology and to make recommendations where needed.