Hi Jayne 
  
I would like to comment on the issue of the declining number of Physics students,  at least from a 
point of view of someone coming from a disadvantaged background. I hope this will give you a 
better picture  of the circumstances faced by these potential students. One of the main reasons  
why there are few Physics students, as I mentioned on the 27th June, is poor job prospect after 
completion of studies. Their parents sacrifice a lot to get them educated, and  in some cases 
have to depend on extended family members for financial support. Since the family savings is  
usually enough for the education of one child  (the first born), the siblings get affected.  This elder 
child will have to help educate his/her siblings upon completion of his/her studies.  What this 
means is that one cannot afford a situation whereby he/she will be unemployment after 
completion of their studies or spend a long time studying.   
  
The unwillingness of industry to employ Physics graduates is also another contributor to the 
decline in Physics students. This results in the potential students being lost to other fields. It is 
true that not only industry can employ  Physicists, but it is also true that the majority of graduates 
wants to go to industry especially considering renumeration which still has to with what's been 
mentioned above. I know of people, some my friends, who have struggled to find employment. 
For obvious reasons these guys will not be good ambassadors  of  Physics. Anyone who went 
through this won't advise their younger sisters, brothers or friends or anyone coming from the 
same background to follow the same route. I am not sure if this to some extend has to do with the 
fact that they are graduates from HBU's . For those who manage to get financial assistance in the 
form of loans, the money they owe will  accumulate interest while they are still struggling (who 
knows for how long) to find employment.  To summarise two things need to be attended to: 
  
a) minimisation of the burden in terms of siblings support  
b) improve employment prospects of the graduates 
  
As far as point (b) is concerned it has been suggested what needs to be done viz strengthening 
of links with industry. As for the point (a), since this has to do with the past i.e. uneven distribution 
of wealth and (or) opportunities, it is therefore not just the problem of individual organisations or 
institutes. I therefore suggest relevant people to engage government on this issue. One might 
argue that students from other disciplines also come from the same past. Yes, but we need to 
build up the critical mass of postgraduates particularly in science and engineering desperately 
needed. This as we know will go a long way in the development of the country and economy. 
Their involvement will also help in getting the demographics correct. A fund can be set up, as was 
suggested at our facility, to assist those students. Of course the exact details on  how  the fund 
will be administered will be discussed. This in itself will help attract more students without them 
having to worrying about the burden awaiting them at home.  
  
Regards 
Tshepo
Mr. Tshepo Ntsoane 
X-ray diffraction facility, iThemba Labs* 
P.O. Box 
Somerset West 
722 
SOUTH  AFRICA