Abstract
M.Ed.
Education in South Africa assumes that all learners should have access to effective teaching, so that inequalities can be eliminated and the skills of all learners be optimally developed. It is of cardinal importance that career guidance in schools attempt to maintain a balance between the technological demands of the world of work and the needs of each unique individual learner. Technology Education involves a radical change in the approach to education. It moves away from giving students a set body of knowledge, to a style of creating a wide range of learning activities. One such learning activity is problem-solving which teach learners to think for themselves and provides them with the skills and experiences in researching, designing and evaluating knowledge. Teachers become facilitators and work together with and help learners to reach successful outcomes and competencies.
In recent research by the Curriculum 2005 Initiative (1997) in the field of career guidance, the emphasis has been placed on enabling learners to access career and other opportunities and to set goals which will enable them to make the best use of their full potential and talents. It is stated clearly that it has become imperative for education and the world of work to forge closer co-operation in order to prepare the learners for their future working lives and life-long learning prospects. The world of work changes from time to time. There is a need to continuously develop human resources to meet the demands of a growing economy and the needs of all people in the country. An effective career guidance programme is therefore essential in linking the needs of the country with the aspirations, abilities and skills of learners. The research in this study focuses primarily on career guidance in a technologically stimulating school environment. The secondary aims are to investigate the effectiveness of the career guidance teacher, the correlation between the possible influence of the career guidance teacher in grade 11 and 12, and the correlation between learners with Mathematics and Science and their study and career choices.
A questionnaire with both open and closed questions was given to grade 12 learners to complete. The questionnaire was validated during a pilot study. The following interesting results were gathered: the aspects that mostly influenced the learner's subject, study and career choice are
their interest and love for the subject; there is a correlation between the effectiveness of the guidance teacher and the teaching aids he or she uses in promoting careers; there is a positive correlation between the influence of the guidance teacher in grade 11 and his/her influence in grade 12. there is a correlation between learners with Mathematics and their eventual career choices.
This study confirms the importance and influence of career guidance and highlights the reasons and choices which are made by learners regarding careers.