Mpumalanga Grade 9 learners should think carefully about their future careers and subject choices, according to Services SETA, which is participating in a weeklong career exhibition in the Nkangala District.
Yesterday the Services Sector Education and Training Authority visited Alex Benjamin Secondary School and Kwazamokuhle Secondary School in a programme to guide young people about career choices, subject selections and study requirements for further education and training.
The outreach programme encourages learners to think seriously about their future educational and occupational aspirations so that they can make the right choices about their Grade 9 subjects and subsequent education and training pathway after school.
Guidance for Grade 9 learners
Grade 9 is a crucial year for learners in South Africa. The subjects they select will affect their choices in Grade 12, and they must make sure they are able to pursue the path they want after school.
Speaking to learners during the exhibition, Phindile Sibeko of Services SETA said that young people should receive guidance about career choices.
For learners, subject choices should not be about following peers, or assuming that certain options will lead straight to their favourite careers.
Instead, learners can ask about the requirements for the occupations they want to pursue. Understanding the necessary educational and training requirements will help them make more informed choices about their schooling and the appropriate further education and training to pursue after school.
Learners informed that university is not the only option after school
One important message the learners received yesterday is that university is not the only option after school. They were informed about a range of other post-school options, including vocational education and training at TVET colleges, that can prepare young people for the world of work.
This message resonated with Nonkululeko Hlatshwayo, a Grade 9 learner at Alex Benjamin Secondary School, who said that the career exhibition changed her perceptions about the opportunities available after school. “I never thought about those options before,” she said.
She identified TVET colleges as a source of opportunity for young people wanting to pursue their ambitions in a different way.
Her words illustrate an important need in career guidance: learners need to understand the full range of post-school options available to them, including university, before they can make their own decisions about which pathway is right for them.
What are TVET colleges?
TVET colleges offer post-school education and training, and provide an alternative to university for learners with ambitions in the world of work.
However, TVET does not simply offer an alternative for those who do not gain access to university. This type of education is not simply a ‘plan B’. Learners who want to pursue a TVET education do not necessarily have to be rejected by universities. Instead, they need to select the right programme, based on their interests and the requirements of the specific qualification.
TVET qualifications and the skills they require vary widely, depending on the occupaton the learner wants to pursue. Learners should investigate the different programmes to identify the one that suits them, based on their interests and the specific requirements of the qualification.
Learners can prepare for their futures from Grade 9
An important insight the learners received from yesterday’s exhibition is that they do not have to wait until Matric to prepare for their careers.
Grade 9 learners have sufficient time to explore the requirements of different occupations, and find out what subjects they will need to pursue, so that they can choose the right subjects in school.
A learner who wants to become an engineer, for instance, can investigate the requirements for engineering qualifications, such as the maths and science subjects needed to gain access to the engineering degree. Those who want to pursue a career in business, education, information technology, healthcare or the skilled trades, can find out what the requirements are for the different qualifications in these fields.
The sooner learners begin this process, the more time they will have to make informed choices.
Skills development also plays a role in career planning
The learners were also informed that academic results are not the only requirements for a career in the world of work. The world of work includes a wide range of occupations, and many entail specific skills that are not always gained through an academic education.
Understanding the relationship between academic qualifications, TVET and workplace skills can help learners choose the right options to pursue their interests.
For example, some learners will find that university is the right option for their chosen career, while others will benefit from a TVET college or occupational training.
Questions learners should ask about careers
After attending a career exhibition such as the one in Nkangala, learners should conduct their own research about the requirements for a specific career, such as:
What subjects do I need to do to get into the career I want?
Which qualifications do I need?
Where can I study or receive training?
What are the admission requirements?
Are there TVET or occupational-training options to enter the field?
What skills are needed byemployers?
How long will the course or training last?
Are there any financial options after school?
Are there alternative careers that I could pursue using the same set of subjects?
These questions will help transform learners’ ideas about their future careers into an appropriate education and training plan.
Learners’ parents and teachers can support them
Of course, learners should not make these decisions on their own. They can be supported by their parents, guardians and teachers, who can encourage them to conduct their research, and help them to understand the relationship between subjects and the careers they want to pursue.
It is important that parents and teachers do not recommend one option to learners without explaining the alternatives, and without taking into account the learner’s interests and abilities.
University, TVET education and training, occupational qualifications and training, and the world of work all play different roles in preparing a learner for the career of his or her choice. Young people need to select the pathway that is right for them.
A crucial message for Grade 9 learners
The Services SETA outreach illustrates the importance of preparing learners for their future careers before they reach Grade 12.
One valuable insight of the Nkangala programme is that learners must receive guidance about career choices based on the requirements of different occupations to inform their subject choices.
Learners like Nonkululeko Hlatshwayo can discover that there are other options for post-school education and training besides university and make more informed choices about the path they want to take. The most important message the learners received is that they should take charge of their futures by obtaining the information they need, instead of basing their choices on assumptions.
Learners do not need to decide their entire future in Grade 9 but can explore their options and ensure they obtain the information to make the right choices at the right time.
Source and reporting note
This article was independently written from information supplied about Day 2 of the Services SETA-supported weeklong career exhibition in Mpumalanga’s Nkangala District, including the visits to Alex Benjamin Secondary School and Kwazamokuhle Secondary School.
The comment attributed to Phindile Sibeko and learner Nonkululeko Hlatshwayo are presented in the context supplied for the event.
Editorial policy
Our editorial approach is to provide accurate, relevant and independently written information for South African readers.
We differentiate between reported statements, verified information and general educational guidance. We do not represent participation in a career exhibition as a guarantee of admission, funding, training or employment.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general information and public awareness. It is not an official publication of Services SETA, the schools or any participating organisation.
Career and education requirements can change. Learners should verify current admission requirements, qualifications and funding information directly with universities, TVET colleges, training providers and other relevant institutions before making decisions.
Reader awareness: Learners should not feel pressured to select a particular career pathway simply because it is popular. Research different pathways, discuss options with trusted adults, and ask about the official requirements before selecting subjects or applying for post-school programmes.
