You should start planning your future career as early as in Grade 9. This was what North-West University (NWU) statistics lecturer Dr Piet Ntema, told Grade 9 learners during a recent career guidance workshop.

Dr Ntema hosted the workshop in partnership with the office of Prof Rodney Medupe, deputy dean for community engagement and stakeholder relations at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Phomolong Community Library.

The workshop, titled "Finding your dream job as early as in Grade 9", took place in Dr Ntema's township of origin, Phomolong in Hennenman, and attracted more than 70 learners from different schools in the area.

Dr Ntema says the workshop was aimed at informing and advising learners about the careers currently available in the market, subject choices they can make in Grade 10, and university admission requirements and qualifications to match them, among other things.

He says this initiative was inspired by the high rate of unemployed graduates. "I chose my hometown schools as a starting point, and want to make sure that our learners get the right and relevant information about available careers presently in the market, and how subject choices can benefit them in getting relevant qualifications matching what the job market is offering now.

"Our teaching potential remains sound, but we must promote quality education to make young South Africans more competitive in the employment market,” he adds.

“It is, therefore, important to help and encourage Grade 9 learners to look at jobs available in the job market and how to choose subject combinations relevant to these," says Dr Ntema.

He adds that their vision is to see students enrolling for tertiary education relevant to national and international job markets.

"The overall aim of the exercise is to provide guidance and assistance that will enable learners to achieve their career goals. We also want to create awareness regarding available career options and help them identify their career objectives.

“The workshop also helped learners to get to know themselves better by identifying their skills, abilities, interests, personal strengths and values," says Dr Ntema.

“I am grateful to Prof Medupe and the university for supporting this initiative," he says, adding that he aims to expand the initiative to other township schools around the Free State province and in the Vanderbijlpark area.

Dr Piet Ntema talks to Grade 9 learners about the importance of making the correct subject choices.