Career guidance for the youth

The shortage of chemical, electrical and industrial engineers, and chartered accountants and information technology specialists from previously disadvantaged backgrounds is colossal and complex. It needs all hands on deck and contributions from all fronts to address and subsequently rectify it.

This is the view of Intsika Youth Development, a non-profit organisation whose mandate is to promote skills development and comprehensive career and vocational guidance.

The youth organisation will be embarking on a series of career expos under the theme ‘Forging the Future’.

The Northsider had a chat with the chairperson of the youth organisation, Sibongiseni Mnguni who revealed that they have identified the lack of information as the main source for learners choosing careers that are over-saturated and not in demand, hence a number of graduates are stranded at home with unsuitable qualifications.

“We have to actively promote and prioritise increasing the number of learners proficient in science, technology, engineering, maths and innovation – those collectively known as STEMI – as well as finance as critical catalysts for our nation’s economic prosperity and development as they create a pipeline for crucial careers that have all the elements to grow the economy and create much-needed jobs,” said Sibongiseni.

The 2019 National Senior Certificate School Subject Report released in 2019 shows that fewer learners are pursuing critical subjects like accounting, economics, science and mathematics.

“The series of career expos to be held in Roodepoort, Cosmo City and Dobsonville aims to address this challenge from where it originates – the lack of career and vocational guidance at our high schools.

“We believe that if learners are to be given appropriate career and vocational guidance on critical and scarce skills at the early stages of their schooling, they will have assessed and chosen their career options wisely by the time they complete Grade 12, and the country will benefit a great deal,” explained Sibongiseni.

The career expo will take place using the try-a-skill format, which will enable learners to experience the world of work through experimenting and simulation exercises on the on-site machinery. This translates to a learner being exposed to different careers and also getting an opportunity to try first-hand if this is what he or she wants to do in the future.

“We are calling on all those like-minded to join hands and partner with us to increase the pipeline of learners in these critical subjects to meet the skills deficit the country faces,” concluded Sibongiseni.

Members of the community who would like more information on Intsika Youth Development are advised to visit www.myfuturexpo.org.