Guiding learners to the future

BY THANDI BOSMAN

 As learners finish Grade 9, they must make subject choices which will influence their later career path, and in their senior years, they need to prepare for their post-school lives. THANDI?BOSMAN spoke to two guidance counsellors about how their Catholic schools provide this guidance.

Catholic schools provide guidance for learners in both Grade 9 subject choice and the senior grades that will influence their career paths.

For many school leavers, the transition from high school to university or college can be socially and emotionally challenging.

They not only have to adjust to a new environment and bigger classes, but also to a heavier workload, new faces and lectures.

Schools have to help prepare learners for tertiary education or help them find study or work opportunities after school through guidance counselling and preparation.

At Springfield Convent School in Wynberg, Cape Town, preparation for tertiary education is done through “providing information, guidance and motivation to students”.

School counsellor Morag Scordilis said that this preparation begins with the school itself: “I believe firmly that preparation for post-matric studies starts with the approach the school takes and instils with regard to work ethic, student awareness and learning or study methods”.

With the school’s guidance and help, the learners themselves should take responsibility for their future after school, Mrs Scordilis said.

“It is also vitally important, especially once [learners] reach the senior grades, that they assume some degree of responsibility for their future study and work options, rather than the adults and institution taking on the sole responsibility for their future studies. We encourage [learners] to be aware, thoughtful and interested in a variety of possible study and work options,” Mrs Scordilis said.

Springfield also counsels in the junior classes (Grades 8-9) where learners are given the “opportunity to find out about their personal ‘learning style’” as well as “how best to work to their strength[s]”. Mrs Scordilis said that junior learners also have access to counselling and advice on learning techniques, study skills and subject choices.

Learners make their final subject choices at the end of Grade 9. “There is discussion with teaching staff and deputy principals regarding this initial step as it impacts significantly on future career and study options,” said Mrs Scordilis.

To help learners with career and subject choices, learners are given the opportunity to attend a “careers fair” which is held every year.

“The fair has a very large number of contributors from a wide and varied range of study and career options. Apart from educational institutions, individual speakers from various backgrounds and career fields address the [learners]. Study options and careers cover a range of fields including the fields of health and beauty, actuarial science, medicine, engineering, fitness, social work, occupational and physiotherapy, drama, and design studies,” Mrs Scordilis said.

Mrs Scordilis added that learners are encouraged to attend every year “so that they can access new information as their interests develop and change and so that they are aware of up to date information and options”. Mrs Scordilis said that the school was “delighted to have another local school” join them in their career fair and to benefit from the information provided on the day by contributors to the fair.

At the all-girls’ St Ursula’s School in Krugersdorp, guidance and counselling for tertiary education takes place during life orientation classes from Grade 8.

“The Life Orientation curriculum has specific tasks from Grades 8-12 on careers and career choice. It also includes information on tertiary education options, bursaries and so on,” said Jennifer Lombard, the life orientation teacher at St Ursula’s.

Tertiary institutions visit the Grade 12 and 11 learners to do presentations.

The school also uses the online career guidance programme PACE Career Centre, a career guidance programme that helps learners with university or college choices, what they can study as well as how to fund tertiary education.

Ms Lombard said that she assists the learners with applying for tertiary education and finding bursaries. The career programme also explains bursaries and student loans, which “forms an integral part”.

To prepare senior learners for tertiary education, Springfield Convent’s Mrs Scordilis said: “The Lifeskills team provides a variety of talks, demonstrations, discussions and visits where students are able to obtain information on topics ranging from specific learning institutions to motivational talks on coping with stress.

Learners can benefit from both individual and small group counselling sessions at Springfield. During these session learners can “discuss study and career options as well as seek information and assistance on learning and study skills”, Mrs Scordilis said.

“We have run a number of study skills groups at different grade levels and more recently we were privileged to offer a limited service of careers and psychometric assessment. Generally girls wishing to avail themselves of this service are referred to outside specialists for assistance,” Mrs Scordilis said.

Ms Lombard said that the learners have a “good understanding” of what to expect at tertiary education, such as the increased workload and lectures.

It is not only in the life orientation class where learners learn and prepare emotionally for tertiary education; “the school focuses on developing emotional intelligence in learners”, Ms Lombard said.

“The aim of the school is to develop the learner completely. All the educators focus on this. Our religious education and life orientation programmes are specifically focused on developing well rounded confident young adults,” Ms Lombard said.

Mrs Scordilis agreed: “If learners are encouraged to develop a sensible and responsible approach to learning and studies, this will always benefit them in further education and studies.”