The University of Pretoria (UP) has once again placed first in the country in the April Initial Test
of Competence (ITC) results.The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) administers two Chartered Accountant exams and the results of the first for the year were released recently. UP placed first once again with an unprecedented 100% pass rate for its first-time writers and an overall 99.4% pass rate for all its candidates.
The University achieved a 100% pass rate for its first-time writers (169) and a 99% (173/174) pass rate for all
its candidates. Professor Madeleine Stiglingh, Head: Department of Accounting and the Chartered Accountancy Programme Coordinator, said: “Not only did the number of African black candidates of UP increase, but for the first time ever our pass rate for our African black, coloured and Indian students is an unprecedented 100%, and it is higher than the pass rate of the white candidates (99%).
The number of African black candidates increased by 7% (47 in 2021, 44 in 2020 and 40 in 2019), while the pass rate increased from 86% in 2020 to 100% in 2021. The national pass rate for all African black candidates is 52%
and UP also achieved the highest pass rate in the country for our African black candidates (100%).”
UP’s first-time pass rate is an average of 94% over a period of 15 years and is one of the most consistent when considered over time.The overall national pass rate in the examination was 64% (2020 – 59%). A total of 3 887 (2020 – 3 657) candidates wrote the April 2021 ITC, of whom 2 507 (2020 – 2 149) passed. UP contributed 174 candidates (169 first-time writers and five repeaters) to the April 2021 ITC.
“We remain extremely proud of our track record in the SAICA ITC examinations, and the 2021 results again
confirmed and emphasise the concerted and focused efforts of our exceptional teaching staff on the highly
teaching-intensive CA Programme. These unprecedented pass rates were achieved despite the unprecedented challenging times we are in,” said Prof Stiglingh.
Prof Stiglingh thanked the management team of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and the
top management of the University for their continued support “to enable us to empower our BCom Accounting Sciences and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences students with everything they require to FLY not only at UP, but to FLY high when they launch into the world of work”.
The FLY@UP campaign (The Finish Line is Yours) encourages students to complete their qualifications within the minimum prescribed time so that they can go out into the job market and contribute to the economy as soon as they can.A delighted Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, congratulated the students. “We
are delighted with this pass rate. It is evidence of the quality and excellence of our programmes. Our students achieved an amazing pass rate in the midst of a pandemic. You have shown resilience and tenacity,” he said.
UP is also well-positioned when all its candidates (first-timers and repeaters) are compared to candidates (first-timers and repeaters) from other major residential universities, said Prof Stiglingh
