Date: 04.06.2019

To: The Department of Higher Education and Training.

Re: Advocating for career development services.

SOS Children’s Village South Africa is doing a campaign to advocate for support in education, as a request that resulted from listening to children. Children appealed for education support with subject choice, career pathing to prepare them for employability.

Most learners and their parents do not have sufficient knowledge about careers most appropriate for their abilities, values, and interests in line with available opportunities in the workplace.

Most learners choose courses at a tertiary level based on the availability of space and this leads to high drop-out rates. Those who succeed end up in careers that do not suit them, leading to low morale, poor performance, and quick burnout.

Our analysis of the problem resulted in two things that might reduce the impact of the problem if attended to,
• Allocation of more time to the subject of career guidance for grade 8 to 12 learners.
• Ensuring that all children access career expos organised by different institutions, including all Career Development Services offered by the Department free of charge.

A learner's subject choice is one of the factors that have significant implications in terms of career choice and successful future career, so we suggest that realistic, guided and informed subject choice be implemented in grade grades 10 to 12, based on any information and learning in grades seven to nine.

We know that in grade nine, career guidance is one of the five topics discussed in Life Orientation (LO), placed under World Of Work. Out of the 70 hours per year allocated to LO, only 11 hours are for the world of work, compared to 35 of the time given to Physical Education (PT). The other three topics in LO are i) Development of the self in society- 10 hrs, ii) Health, social and environmental responsibility- 7hrs and iii) constitutional rights and responsibilities – 7hrs.

The 11 hours is further divided, leaving career and subject choices with only three hours a year.

Looking at the amount of time allocated to career guidance, one would wonder how much of these few hours are actually honored. Do children and teachers attach any level of seriousness to the subject, which is so critical to the success of the children’s careers? If wrong subject choices are made, it likely leads to incorrect career choices, leading to a waste of resources.

Many institutions of higher learning and other non-government institutions offer services of career guidance and career development services. We are aware that the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), working with Departments of Higher Education and Training and Basic Education launched a Career Advice Service in 2011 and have a website, a career advice helpline, guidance materials and a radio program on nine regional programs; but we still wonder whether all children living in different places do access the services.

The fact is, current school goers in disadvantaged areas find it difficult to reach career expos. Some of the information is accessible through the internet while disadvantaged children lack connectivity and tools to connect. Radio programs happen at awkward times, mostly after nine in the evening.

We call for:
• Allocation of more time in the classroom to career guidance.
• Organisers of career expos should start thinking about how they can take the services to
disadvantaged children living in remote areas of South Africa,
• Radio programs to be re-scheduled for times when children can access them such as during the day so that teachers can organise to have all the children sitting together and listening to the program and discuss the broadcast at the end.
• Children who have access to the internet should also be encouraged to get information through assignments that force them to reach for the information.

The aim should be to better equip these children to make wise choices of careers they want to pursue.

SOS Children's Villages would also want to share all the information that we have gathered on this topic, videos of children in our care expressing how they wish to be supported in education, an op-ed by one young woman sharing her experiences in choosing a good career, a video that includes a University Professor expressing the need to take subject choice and career pathing seriously. Our expectation is that DHET should commit to analyse the problems further to come up with solutions.

Who we are.

SOS Children’s Villages (SOS CV) is an independent, non-governmental organisation that cares for and advocates for the rights of South Africa’s most marginalised children. Established in 1984, SOS CV has eight programs, previously called villages, and a loving home for every child.

We offer family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care.

We also operate three Social-Centers across eight provinces.

We commit to supporting young people to access quality education and we support them to develop appropriate skills and work ethic for success in life.

Our alternative care, family strengthening, and youth employability programs provide lifechanging support to children and families.

Sincerely

Mosa Moremi (SOS CV National Child Rights Advocacy Coordinator)