When it is time to decide

Tunohole MungobaMany learners around the country face a lot of challenges when it comes to making subject choices and deciding what courses to pursue after they finish their grade 12. The Zone spoke to psychological experts and the University of Namibia (UNAM)’s career guidance facilitators to find out how learners can make smarter decisions when it comes to their career choices. The country’s grade 10s and 12s are currently writing their external examinations nationwide and studying very hard to make sure they pass. Although the grade 12s will be done with secondary phase education, the grade 10s will have to choose their subject fields in grade 11 and most learners are faced with obstacles as they are not well equipped with making the right decisions regarding their subject choices. “Your subject choices will have an impact on what you study at college or university, and what job you go on to in the future. It is of utmost importance to know when choosing subjects that it would benefit your career choices in future,” says Marlette Brand, an educational psychologist. “For example if you choose specific subjects in specific fields on higher level, you must know that it would be sufficient for university extension or your preferred field of study.”She also explains to the Zone that your subject choices also directly affect your happiness and success while at school. “If you excel in subjects you would be more motivated and eager to achieve success resulting in better performance important for tertiary training.” She urged learners to consider their aptitudes and abilities and use that as a basis for selecting the subjects to which they are best suited. “Usually career guidance take into account the personality, interests and aptitudes of the client and make a decision fitted to the individual. It is important to have enough information on subject choices not to restrict career choices in later years.”Personality influences the essential choices we make in life and we choose a subject according to our academic interests and strengths, but most likely also according to where we believe we can make the most of our personality. Brand also says that our personality can be an advantage in our choice of subjects “as your personality gives you clues about what circumstances you as individual would thrive and which working options you should avoid.”Marni Coetzer, a psychological counsellor additionally warns that wrong subject choices can have a negative influence on a child’s career as dropping out of school will always be an option to the learner. “Learners become easily demotivated and their grades may drop significantly. This might lead to lower grade levels at the end on Grade 12, restricting young adults on their desired career choices,” she warns.Coetzer also continued to urge parents to assist them when it comes to making career choices. “Parents can assist their children by helping them to know themselves better. Maybe tell them what they think their aptitude might be or what has interest them since childhood and in what job they see them,” she says. She also said they can take their children to different people already in practice to experience the job first hand or by doing job-shadowing. “Making children aware of new occupations and developments is very important in the time we raise our children. Motivate them and assist them to do research on different career options.”She also urged current grade 10 learners to put in a lot of thought before choosing their subjects next year as it involves a lot discussion and research. “You need to find out about the different types of subjects and in many cases, think further about career choices. Never assume you know all about a subject at a higher level because you have done that subject before. Your entire future is lying in front of you.”Coetzer also says it is essential to take the time and research about career options and specific subjects needed for specific fields of study. “It is worth your while to consult with a professional in the field of career guidance.”University of Namibia’s Office of the Dean offers different professional services and it serves as an academic counselling unit on campus. “Every year, we get hundreds of students and during the orientation process, our office is flooded with students who are seeking information about the courses we offer. In some cases, some students are already accepted in a specific course, but then they only realise later on that is not what they want to do,” says Margareth Mainga, the dean of students. She also says it is a common practise for students to change courses during the registration process and she says lack of career guidance contributes to this. Mainga also blames parents as sometimes they enforce certain courses on their children. “Most parents want to live their dream through their children. They want their children to study a certain course, but that is not what the child wants to do. But because the child does not want to disappoint their parents, they will just study and they will later drop out or change courses during the years,” she adds.Etuna Simon, an officer at the career guidance office says their doors are always open and they offer explanations on different courses and study applications. “Our students are given time to decide about their courses so we give them time to change courses as well, provided that there is still space available.” Simon continues to add that sometimes, the courses are usually full and students are forced to make second option choices. Nyomonee Tjihukununa, a student counsellor says that sometimes lack of career guidance is not only the reason why students change courses, but sometimes they fear they might not get a job for the course their studying. “Learners are initially passionate about their first choice, but due to the job market, they feel they will not get a job after their graduate so they opt for other courses,” Tjihukununa says. “Or sometimes, they finish their degree, but because they cannot find a job, they decide to come back to school and chase another degree that is in demand. We have a lot of students that are busy completing their second degrees. There is a gap in the market and it does not accommodate everyone. She advises Namibian learners however to rather go towards something their passionate about and work hard towards graduating at the end of their tertiary phase.

When it is time to decide

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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When it is time to decide

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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