Quality of Life Survey V (2017/18): The quality of life of students in Gauteng
Date
2020-07
Authors
Hamann, Christian
Joseph, Kate
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Abstract
In the Quality of Life (QoL) V (2017/18) survey,
respondents from all population groups were
represented in the student sample. However,
a higher percentage of all Indian/Asian
respondents (17%) and white respondents (13%)
were registered as students compared to the
proportion of all African respondents (10%) and
coloured respondents (11%). The differences
were larger among younger respondents from
each population group.
• However, racialised socio-economic inequality
is evident in the fact that the average monthly
household income of African students was
around R11 755 while the average monthly
household income of white students was around
R38 541.
• Similarly, a lower percentage of African students
reported having access to assets which are
likely to assist learning (like a laptop or internet
at home) when compared to the access of
coloured, Indian/Asian or white students. But
African and white students had higher levels of
access to these assets than African and white
non-students.
• The majority of all students in the sample would
have qualified for National Student Financial
Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding (69%) based
on their household income. A further 26% of
students were considered part of the ‘missing
middle’, and only about 5% of students could be
categorised as upper class.
Racialised socio-economic inequality is evident
in students’ average monthly income
• There were important lifestyle and class
differences between full time and part time
students. On average, students had a higher
socio-economic status than non-students, but
part time students had a higher socio-economic
status than full time students.
• The mean age of full time and part time students
was 24 and 31 years, respectively. Further, part
time students were more likely to be household
heads, while in the households of full time
students it was more likely for the mother
or father of the student to be the head of the
household.
• On average, students were 6% more likely to
be satisfied with a range of services, facilities
and spheres of government than non-students,
but higher satisfaction with services did not
translate into higher satisfaction with spheres of
government.
• Although the differences remain relatively
small, students were more likely to respond
positively on various measures of physical wellbeing (like general health status) and mental
well-being (like having emotional support) than
non-students.
• Despite a significant degree of racial inequality
in the student sample (in terms of income and
access to assets), students score higher on the
overall quality of life index than non-students.
• While respondents born in Gauteng were the
most likely to be students (12%), migrants
from other provinces were nearly as likely
to be students (11%). By contrast, only 6% of
respondents who had migrated from another
country were students.
• Across QoL surveys, students predominantly
made use of taxis (44% on average) or private
motorised transport (31% on average) for their
trips to the places where they study.
• A slightly smaller percentage of students
(7%) participated in protest action compared
to non-student respondents (9%).
Description
Keywords
students, quality of life, gauteng
Citation
Hamann, C., & Joseph, K (2018).Quality of Life Survey V (2017/18): The quality of life of students in Gauteng, July 2020.