As they near the end of their school careers all young people face the daunting task of deciding what to do next, in particular whether to study further and what to study.
This is a challenging, even frightening prospect for most — even for those from affluent homes who attend excellent schools and have regular access to the internet and the mass media. Many well-off parents pay professional career guidance counsellors to assess their children’s aptitudes and provide them with career advice.
But for the poor in townships, informal settlements and rural areas, the problem is acute. These youngsters have little knowledge of what the world of work entails, what careers are available, what knowledge they need to have or what courses they need to study for any particular career.
They have very little information about how to face the intimidating task of gaining access to universities, colleges or other training institutions or obtaining financial assistance. Their families and friends usually cannot help them as their own knowledge of educational institutions and the labour market is generally limited.
This situation leads to poor decision-making, resulting in students registering for courses that are not suited to their interests, aptitudes and abilities. A recent Human Sciences Research Council study, Student Retention and Graduate Destination, found that “insufficient or no career guidance” is one of the key factors contributing to students dropping out of higher education. The same is, no doubt, also true at college level.
This causes disappointment and stress for individuals, and for families that pin their hopes on their children’s success. Not only is their time wasted but meagre family resources are also squandered. Poor career choices result in problems for individuals, for the education and training system, and for the country as a whole. Resources are wasted and the country is deprived of the skilled personnel who could have resulted from appropriate study choices.
Career guidance becomes even more important as we plan to provide additional resources for increased access to post-school opportunities, so that these are not wasted as well.
Initial career guidance at school-leaving level is important but is only one aspect of a comprehensive career guidance service.
Traditionally, career advice was based on the idea that people can make one major career choice and be set for the rest of their working lives. But the fast pace of change has led to a new conceptualisation of career advice as a service that advises individuals throughout their lives.
Lifelong learners need to make a series of informed decisions as they progressively create their career paths. This approach includes developing career management skills, life-planning skills and employability or self-employment skills.
A comprehensive career guidance service, involving information provision, advice, counselling and support, is not only a service of value to individuals it is also of value to the country as a whole. This is because it increases the efficiency of the education and labour market by reducing mismatches and dropouts and increases motivation for achievement.
If people find jobs and career paths that develop their potential and meet their own goals, they are likely to be motivated and therefore be more productive, thus enhancing national prosperity.
I consider the establishment of comprehensive career guidance for the youth as well as for adults to be one of the priorities for developing a successful higher education and training system.
It is a system that must involve all universities, colleges, schools, sector education and training authorities (Setas), education and youth NGOs, and the statutory bodies in the education and training system. It should encompass both the public and the private sectors.
In my budget speech in March this year I announced that the South African Qualifications Authority (Saqa) would establish a comprehensive national career advice centre by the end of June. This has now been done and Saqa has established a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and career advice helpline, to provide a link to the complexity of study and work paths.
This service will provide support and information to all, using multiple methods of accessing information. A website is being developed that will link the lifelong learner to available career information relevant to South Africa (www.nqf.org.za).
A Facebook page (www.tinyurl.com/saqacas) has been set up, where people can volunteer to help others find work, as well as offering self-employment and study opportunities.
A telephone helpline (086 011 1673) has been established for those who are unable to navigate the internet. The helpline will also respond to letters and faxes. Plans are under way to provide access to career advice via SMS, chat and a mobisite.
These Saqa career advice services will be a resource that can be used by those who give career advice as well as by those who seek it.
On Nelson Mandela Day this Sunday, July 18, my department will host the Mandela Day Career Guidance Festival in Giyani. The choice of venue serves to highlight the government’s resolve to place the needs of rural people at the centre of its agenda.
In addition to the department, it will involve Saqa and other statutory bodies like the Council on Higher Education and Umalusi — the quality assurance council for trades and occupations — as well as universities, colleges, Setas and a range of other organisations that will distribute information and provide career advice.
This festival will be repeated annually in rural areas in all provinces. I expect this event to help give impetus to the development of career guidance for all South Africans, and especially to those most in need of it in all parts of our education and training system.
I appeal to those in the higher education and training sector to reach out to young people in need of career guidance, and use your knowledge and expertise to empower them.
Please give 67 minutes to change their lives.
Dr Blade Nzimande is minister of higher education and training