In a few months’ time Grade 9 learners will be required to make important decisions about which combination of subjects they will be pursuing through to their final matric exams.
This is an important first milestone on the road to building a career, an education expert says, adding that while the decision would normally be left until later in the year, the world has changed so dramatically that Grade 9s should start thinking about this significant decision sooner rather than later.
“The world changed last year – not just because schooling and work were disrupted and not just because both had to happen from home in ways never imagined before. The world changed because we are unlikely to go back to what we experienced in 2019,” says Natasha Madhav, senior head of programme at The Independent Institute of Education.
“It has long been said that one needs to prepare young people for jobs that do not exist, but this has never been a concept that has been crystallised in a way that really helped one make decisions.
“Perhaps it is clearer now to focus on preparing for a world of work that is changed and focusing on industries and skill sets that are and will be in demand, rather than on jobs with names that are familiar to us.
“So, for instance, law has not vanished as a field, but most lawyers now need to consult online as easily as they do in person and they can collaborate in real time with colleagues all over the place. They also need to be advising people on both physical and digital implications of what they do.”
Unfortunately, those giving career advice may not have made the transitions, says Madhav.
“If your field is likely to be scientific and technical and analytical, you are still well served to include maths and science and perhaps a technology subject. If your field is problem-solving and solution-oriented, then subjects like history and design or visual arts will provide that skill set. If you are looking for both, you will need both.
“Higher education institutions are not going to move away from some of the standard demands for particular high-demand disciplines or fields, so be sure that you understand what you need for admission and include these in your choices.”
So where to start researching which careers will exist when you matriculate, and which of them might interest you?
“A good place to start, on top of doing online research, is to find a higher education institution,” says Madhav, “one that has already demonstrated that it produces technically proficient and in-demand graduates whose skills are aligned with what is required in the workplace because of their close industry connections.
“In other words, an institution with up-to-date curricula at all times, and able to respond to our fast changing world quickly and resiliently. You will know who they are as they will confidently speak about change and flexibility and adaptability and about the link between study and work.
“By speaking to a student advisor at such an institution, which crucially must also be able to demonstrate that meaningful learning continued during lockdown, learners will be able to discuss their current interests and strengths, and then get advice and insight into which fields will be in high demand in future, and which subjects they can choose later this year, which will give them access to these fields.”
