Abstract:

Most Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) applicants to studentships apply to enroll in the health sciences. This is the case even with those who apply to enroll in the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programmes. The BSc applicants mostly apply for the Life Sciences stream, mainly to switch easily to medicine and other health sciences degrees. This makes the Mathematical Sciences (Math sci.) and Physical Sciences streams less popular, as students applying to SMU view health sciences as guarantees to earn an easily acquired job upon completion of the programme. Therefore, the health sciences stream get exhausted with space easily, and student spaces open more in other streams, such as the Math sci. stream. Some of the health sciences aspiring students end up being streamed in the Math sci., and it is believed that their performance tends to be affected by the coerced streaming. Many of these students tend also not to know what to expect in the Math sci. stream, as they never got a chance to think or reflect, as they only wish to remain in SMU for later switch when they get a chance later. The study intends to determine what the latter students perceive about their performance, as arguments are varied regarding the effects of coerced streaming. Some arguments are that the motivation is high in order to pass well and be admitted where they want to be, while others are that the motivation is low as they enroll where their ‘hearts’ do not agree. A comparison of pass rates between those who originally wanted to be in Math sci. stream with those who were coerced to enter the stream will also be made.

Keywords:

Streaming, Student Performance, Pass Rates.