What you and your Gr 9 child need to know about subject choice
Industrial psychologist Sabetha Nkoana said this grade is an exit point to new pathways and although subject choice is not a career choice, it is a big decision that requires a lot of responsibility and research.
POLOKWANE – “It is okay to get your child that extra help to choose subjects for Gr 10.”
This is the opinion of an industrial psychologist from ME Nkoana Psychologist and Consulting, Sabetha Nkoana as she explained that Gr 9 is a year that can affect the trajectory of the rest of a learner’s life.
It is at this stage that a learner makes the crucial decision of choosing subjects that will influence his or her career choice.
“This grade is an exit point to new pathways and although subject choice is not a career choice, it is a big decision that requires a lot of responsibility and research,” she explained.
Nkoana added that it is one of the most important decisions a learner will make with regard to their future career and life choices. It is also a decision that needs to be made by the learner and not by the parents whose role should be provide guidance and show support for the choice of their child.
Nkoana offers a programme that Gr 9 learners can undergo, which entails subject choice assessment. She also offers Gr 12 career choice assessments. As a psychologist, she can assist with administering assessments that will help the learner become aware of self and in exploring career based on abilities, talents and preferences, by integrating occupational, aptitude and school results.
She provided a list of guiding questions Gr 9 learners should be asking themselves when making subject choices:
· What type of work do I want to do when I finish school?
· What is my current level of achievement at school?
· How is career choice related to subject selection?
· Can I make an informed decision about which subjects will enable me to choose a career?
· Will my choices match my interests and abilities?
· What subjects are offered at my school?
