25 August 2026
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Harmse Photography
Nomonde Mbadi, Director: UFS Student Recruitment Services, speaks to Grade 10 learners from Tsebo Secondary School at the first Grade 10 Open Day to be held on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.
Making higher education accessible is vital for unlocking opportunities. This was evident when the University of the Free State (UFS) held an Open Day on Saturday 22 August with the aim of helping Grade 10 learners explore diverse post-matric career opportunities, ensuring every learner can chart a successful future.
Held by UFS Student Recruitment Services at the Mandela Hall on the Qwaqwa Campus, the initiative attracted schools from Phuthaditjhaba, providing an opportunity for learners to discover study options and take a first step towards possible career paths.
Nomonde Mbadi, Director: Student Recruitment Services, said Grade 10 learners were the “missing group”. “We have interventions for Grade 9 by visiting schools and engaging with learners; also for grades 11 and 12. There was nothing for Grade 10,” she said. “The Open Day is an opportunity to expose them to all of the seven faculties at the University, so that they can bring to reality the choice they have made and what they want to study.”
The Grade 10 Open Day was the second to be hosted by the UFS and the first to be hosted on the Qwaqwa Campus. “Qwaqwa Campus is important, and schools around the campus need to have the same exposure and information as learners from the rest of the province,” Mbadi said.
Connecting learners with diverse careers
Schools attending the Open Day included: Qholaqhwe Secondary School, Hlajoane Secondary School, Tlhorong Senior Secondary School, Seanakwena Secondary School, Tsebo Secondary School, Nkhobiso Secondary School, Koali Secondary School, Nthabiseng Secondary School, and Kgabsy Homework Club.
Khomo Mankie, a Grade 9 and 10 teacher at Qholaqhwe Secondary School, thanked the UFS for organising the Open Day, saying it will help learners to understand the subjects they “need to concentrate on for their preferred careers”.
Mankie added, “The Open Day is a good initiative, providing lifelong learning for the learners.”
Siyabonga Ntamane, who teaches Grade 8 to 12 Mathematics and Physical Science at Hlajoane Secondary School, said, “Learners need to be exposed to different types of careers, as the most popular in the communities is still nursing and teaching. From the event we had an opportunity to also interact with staff from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, exposing our learners to the different career fields they can pursue. I thank the UFS for giving back to the community by opening its doors for the learners.”
Strengthening guidance and access to information
Mbadi said the initiative forms part of the University’s broader commitment to ensuring that learners receive timely guidance and equal access to information about higher education opportunities.
“We appreciate the teachers that brought their learners, as they also get to engage with the different faculties and ask the questions they are not sure about, to better advise the learners. We need to do more, as the Free State province has five districts. If we get to the Life Orientation teachers and provide them with the resources and the knowledge they need, they will be able to capacitate the learners and direct them to the correct direction in terms of what they want to study,” Mbadi said.
Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, reflected on the UFS’ belief that higher education should prepare graduates for more than just employment. “Our responsibility is not just to open the doors of the University; it is to create an environment where every student can grow and flourish and develop the knowledge character to solve real-world challenges and make a positive difference where life takes them.”
She urged learners to choose subjects that “challenge and inspire.”
“Be guided by your strengths, stay curious, and never stop believing in what you are capable of becoming. Keep learning.”