The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has announced that the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) will not be implemented for the 2026 academic year for the Class of 2025 and beyond.
In a statement issued on Monday, the department said the decision forms part of a broader reform of the post-school application process, focusing on the implementation of comprehensive support and an easier transition for all applicants through the Central Application Service (CAS).
The Central Application Clearing House was introduced in 2013 as an intervention to support matriculants and prospective students who were unable to secure placement at Post-School Education and Training (PSET) institutions.
The Central Application Clearing House has over the years played an important role in assisting young people to access available spaces within public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and more recently private higher education institutions.
This was achieved by collecting information on applicants who did not receive offers of placement; those who wished to change the qualifications they had initially applied for, as well as those who only became eligible for study opportunities following the release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results and matching them with available spaces.
According to the department, the move away from the Central Application Clearing House reflects a shift towards a more comprehensive and integrated application system.
“The Central Application Service is designed as a more comprehensive, integrated and long-term solution addressing access, improved visibility of opportunities across the entire Post-School Education and Training system, and the elimination of bogus institutions at this time of the year,” the department said.
The department added that the Central Application Service will progressively make various alternative pathways visible over and above the traditional university and college pathways.
“This approach recognises the reality that current capacity within universities and colleges is not sufficient to meet the growing demand for post-school education and training,” the department said.
The department reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no young person is left without information, guidance, or support in navigating post-school opportunities.
Prospective students have been encouraged to engage with the Central Application Service through its WhatsApp chat line on 081 308 4196. – SAnews.gov.za
