Services SETA partners with the Mpumalanga Department of Education for a five-day Career Expo in Nkangala District.
The first day saw Services SETA delegates at L.D. Moetanalo Secondary School and Sozama Secondary School meet Grade 9 learners regarding career guidance, subject choices and further-education pathways.
The Career Expo intends guiding learners to make more-informed education decisions, and to raise awareness about the options offered by South Africa’s skills-development bodies.
Career guidance for Grade 9 learners
The first day of the Services SETA programme involved meeting learners in Grade 9, a pivotal school year as learners make early subject choices that could direct their further studies and future careers.
The sessions included information about various career areas, plus discussions of how learners should make choices about subjects and their relevance to further-education options and employment.
Learners also learnt the importance of understanding the relationship between subjects that they choose, post-school education opportunities and potential future jobs.
Importance of understanding SETAs
An additional highlight of the Services SETA guidance included raising learner awareness about the role of SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities).
Youth often interact with SETAs when applying for learnerships, internships or training opportunities, but may lack an understanding of the organization’s function within South Africa’s skills-development ecosystem.
It is hoped that learners can now have a better understanding of skills development, and possible pathways after school.
Such guidance should support learners to make relevant searches when investigating universities, TVET colleges, occupational training, and other post-school education opportunities.
Relevance of subjects to further study
A learner’s subject choices at school can affect their future pathways, as universities, TVET colleges or even employers, may have subject requirements.
Instead of simply choosing what their friends select, learners can research the subject and qualification requirements for related careers or pathways they are interested in.
If a learner is considering technical, scientific, business or professional career areas, they should investigate the usual subject and qualification requirements for those fields before making a choice.
Learners should be proactive regarding education and career planning. This early guidance can support learners to take control of their choices in school and after matric.
Government-supported education and skills opportunities
The learners also became aware of the various government-supported further-education and skills opportunities that are available.
These may include various post-school education or training opportunities according to an applicant’s qualifications and interests.
However, access to any such program usually involves specific criteria, and not every young person will automatically qualify for any course or training initiative that interests them.
People should be aware of such conditions and make appropriate searches when considering further-education programs.
The Services SETA campaign continues until the following Thursday
The Services SETA campaign in the Nkangala District runs from 14 May until 18 May 2024 (a total of five days) in conjunction with the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
The first day involved services SETA delegates at L.D. Moetanalo Secondary School and Sozama Secondary School. There are still four more days remaining in the program, with an opportunity to interact with more students in Nkangala.
Why early and informed career planning is vital
Career choices still seem very far away to youth still at school.
However the early choices they make while at school can determine future options, including subjects that they might continue studying, which will influence the qualifications that they obtain and even the job that they pursue.
Early career-related sessions in school can support them to:
- identify some of the possible careers related to their subjects of interest
- see what academic or other requirements might be needed for their intended career
- determine how they could pursue those options, including further study at university, college, technical training or skills development through SETAs
- find out when the applications for any such programs are available
- discover how to apply for these opportunities
- make informed decisions regarding future study options after matric
The aim is to give learners relevant information to guide their choices – while leaving them free to choose their own path.
A career expo is only a start – learners must continue researching their options
A career expo is only an introduction to the various further-education and career possibilities. After participating in a career expo, students should continue researching the options that suit their needs and to compare the requirements of different universities, training colleges, skills programs or other career opportunities in order to make informed decisions.
Learners should also be cautious about opportunities advertised via social media, with many such offers being outdated or even fabricated by dishonest persons, pretending to represent legitimate SETAs – always use an official website to confirm details.
No Services SETA learnership, internship application details specified
The information supplied does not give any indication of a new Service SETA learnership or internship application.
There is no reference to a stipend, closing date, number of places or any eligibility criteria for such applications.
From this information alone an assumption must be made that the first day of the Services SETA participation in the Career Expo is strictly for awareness and guidance about the post-school options, rather than a recruitment campaign for specific places.
The message of the Careers Expo is that learners should plan their futures, and should consider their options while still at school.
For Grade 9 learners, this means making informed subject choices that support their intended future paths and researching possible further-education options.
Services SETA’s involvement also creates an awareness of the ways in whih skills-development bodies fit into the larger sphere of education and employment.
With four more days to go in the Services SETA Career Expo, the organization hopes to continue creating awareness with additional learners in Nkangala District regarding their post-school options.
Source
Source: Services SETA – information supplied regarding its participation in the five-day Career Expo organized by the Mpumalanga Department of Education in Nkangala District.
Editorial policy
This article is submitted independently for the benefit of South African learners and families, utilizing information supplied by the relevant bodies. The article is written from a perspective focused on learners, and not on a general career guidance or bursary application basis.
In this particular case, no supplementary details regarding stipends, bursaries, closing dates, requirements, or jobs opportunites have been added to general statements.
Disclaimer
The Career Expo is an awareness and guidance initiative regarding possible further-education options. Attendance at the sessions does not pre-empt admission to any degree, college, technical training, bursary or job.
Learners should confirm the latest requirements and application procedures directly with the respective institutions.
Learner awareness
Students and their parents should be aware of dishonest persons claiming to represent SETAs and to secure guaranteed opportunities following attendance of a career expo.
Never pay any fees for guaranteed selection. Always confirm the validity of any education, bursary, internship, learnership or job opportunity through official channels.
