Career guidance remains a critical component of the South African education system, enabling learners to make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures. Career guidance can be more effective if it is conducted in the early years of children’s schooling, fostering self-awareness, exposing learners to potential career paths, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to navigate through their educational journey successfully.
Ms Charity Kanyane, responsible for career provision, career education, information, guidance, and counselling at Khetha Initiative, explains: “As learners progress from one grade to the other, career guidance becomes crucially important when choosing subjects that shape future opportunities. For those aiming for university, understanding admission requirements is essential. A National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s pass is the basic requirement, but universities also use the Admission Point Score (APS) system to assess eligibility. Fields such as medicine and engineering demand strong results in Mathematics and Physical Science, while teaching and law professions place more emphasis on language proficiency. Making informed subject choices early on is therefore vital. Schools play a leading role in ensuring that learners are appropriately supported to make the right career choices. Life Orientation teachers have long been central to career guidance, but every subject can and should have added value to career guidance to learners from the General Education and Training (GET) band to the Further Education and Training (FET) band. By linking classroom content to real-world careers, teachers can show learners how their studies align to future opportunities. Parents, too, are vital partners. By discussing interests and strengths, attending career expos, and providing financial application support, they can help learners to make the right career choices.”
Ms Kanyane underscored the importance of schools and parents cooperating to help learners understand the different pathways to learning, such as the Three Streams Model, which recognises that young people learn differently and need multiple pathways to success. She further highlighted that the academic stream prepares learners for university and professional careers. However, the technical/occupational stream equips them with practical skills for industries such as IT, engineering, and trades; while the vocational stream emphasises workplace readiness and hands-on training. By aligning subject selection with these streams, learners are empowered to pursue careers that match their abilities and aspirations.
She further remarked: “For those who do not meet traditional university entry requirements, South Africa’s education system offers many other options. A few examples include the DBEs Second Chance Programme, giving learners the opportunity to improve their results; Higher certificates and diplomas, offering access to specific fields and serving as stepping stones toward degrees; Extended degree programmes, designed for learners who need more time and support in higher education; and TVET colleges, thereby providing practical training for direct entry into the workforce or further vocational study. These are just some of the many alternatives that ensure no learner is left behind. Specialised services such as Khetha are instrumental in guiding learners. Through initiatives like the Apply Now! Campaign, Khetha encourages Grade 11 and 12 learners to apply for admission as early as possible to secure tertiary admission to avoid an unintended gap year. The earlier learners submit their applications, the greater their chances of securing space in competitive programmes.”
In closing Ms Kanyane emphasised that “Planning opens opportunities and reduces stress. Tools such as CareerHelp and the National Career Advice Portal give learners the knowledge and clarity to transform uncertainty into opportunity. Career guidance, when integrated across subjects and supported by parents, schools, and specialised services, ensures that every learner has a pathway to success. With early planning, informed choices, and the right support, learners can confidently shape their futures and turn aspirations into achievements.”