IS your subject choice in line with a career you want to follow after matric?
SunEducation spoke to Nthabiseng Sithole, a Grade 11 pupil at Molebatse Secondary in Ga-motla, Hammanskraal.
She said:“I’ve always done well in the same subject I’m doing currently. The only reason I needed to drop others was due to poor results.”
Boitumelo Dube from Diepkloof, Soweto, a Grade 11 pupil at Fons Luminis High school, said: “My subjects are in line with what I want to do after matric.”
Itumeleng Ramokgopa, a Grade 11 pupil at Fidelitas Secondary School, also in Diepkloof, said: “I’m aware the subjects I’m currently doing are not in line with what I want to do after matric, but my sister told me I can still get into IT.”
Recently, the Department of Basic Education announced the withdrawal of the “designated subject list” – the list of subjects from which pupils had to select according to the degree they wished to pursue.
“But there are some serious considerations not to be ignored,” said Dr Felicity Coughlan, director of The Independent Institute of Education.
“Some may argue that the withdrawal of the designed subject list gives young people more choices, but we urge them not to make risky and uninformed changes.
“Skills such as logic and mathematics, argumentation and reasoning or the scientific method and the need for evidence are taught in math-based classes, history and science, respectively.
“Some omitted subjects, such as design, have been accepted by some institutions because it teaches applied creativity – a useful skill for modern life.”