Life Orientation

Grade 11
Chapter 3 Summary
Careers and Career Choices

Name: __________________________________

LO Teacher: ____________________________

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
 Chapter 3: Careers and Career Choices
In this chapter you will learn about:
 Requirements for admission to additional and
higher education courses: National Senior
Certificate (NSC) requirements for certificate,
diploma and degree studies
 Evaluating additional and higher education
options: Admission Points Score (APS) for
institutions of higher learning and admission
requirements for specific programmes/courses
 Options for financial assistance: bursaries, study
loans, scholarships, studies learnerships and
SETAs
 Obligations in terms of financial arrangements

Unit 1: Tertiary Studies

To be able to make the right career choice, you

need to know yourself. You must be sure why you
are studying and what the value of a tertiary qualification is to you —this will
help you study with a purpose. You want to be happy in your job, and you want
to enjoy studying for that job. That is why it is important that you are well
prepared before you make that final choice.

One of the best ways to make sure that you choose the right career for you is to
know your abilities, your interests, and your likes and dislikes. Based on these
abilities, certain careers have been recommended for you to consider. You have
already worked on these in other grades in Life Orientation. For example, you
may have scored high in the sciences. This means that you can look at careers in
forensic science, a speech therapist, medical doctor or something in the
scientific line.

It is important to focus on how you will go about getting a qualification that will
make it possible for you to follow the career you have in mind.
How you get a qualification will depend on your personal situation. For
example, will you be able to study full time or will you work full time and study
part time to be able to afford studying? You need to know the options available for financial assistance so
that you can plan accordingly. If you do qualify for financial assistance, such as a bursary, study loan,
scholarship or learnership, you will be able to focus on your studies without worrying about money.

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
The three NQF bands

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is an official body that the ministers of Education and
Labour appointed to oversee the development of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in South
Africa.

The NQF regulates all educational qualifications that you can study or train for. It consists of three bands
that span a person's education from when they first enter school to the highest qualification one can get at
university (which is a doctorate).

Band 1
The General Education band takes place at level 1 and consists of schooling up to grade 9, as well as Adult
Education and Training (AET) — see table 3.3.

Band 2
The Further Education and Training (FET) band includes grades 10 — 12. This band lies at levels 2 to 4 of
the framework. See table 3.2 for more information on this band.

Band 3
The Higher Education and Training band consists of levels 5 — 8. Table 3.1 gives more information on this
band.

After completion of level 1 of the NQF, a learner obtains a General Education and Training Certificate
(GETC). After completion of level 4 of the NQF, one obtains a Further Education and Training Certificate
(FETC).

You are in the FET band of the NQF (table 1.2). In Grade 11, you have passed level two and you are
currently at level three. Grade 12 is level four. Once you pass Grade 12, you will receive a National Senior
Certificate (NSC). For admission to additional and higher education courses you need an NSC. Once you
have attained your NSC, you can go on to study at levels 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the NQF (table 3.1).

Higher Education and Training includes all undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, certificates and
diplomas, up to the level of a doctoral degree.

Table 3.1: Higher Education and Training band of the NQF

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Table 3.2: Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC)

Table 3.3: General Education and Training Certificates (GETC)

Evaluating additional and higher education options

When making a decision on which additional and higher education options to pursue, you need to think it
through carefully. Ask yourself: Is the career relevant to the market? Does it provide you with enough
knowledge and skills? And do you find the career interesting? In South Africa you have three higher-
education options: university, technical university or private college/school/institute. Table 3.1 illustrates the
qualification options available at the different locations.

Table 3.4: The minimum entry requirements for different qualifications

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Table 3.5: What you can do with qualifications from each band

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Designated subjects
 Applicants who wish to enrol for a degree programme need to ensure that four of their seven subjects
are from the designated list.
 The four compulsory subjects obtaining the NSC are Home Language, First Additional Language,
Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics, and Life Orientation.
 In addition, a learner must select one or more subjects from the list below, provided that they are not
from the same group, in order to apply for a degree programme.

Table 3.6: Subject list for NSC

Accounting Languages
Agricultural Sciences Life Sciences
Business Studies Mathematics
Dramatic Arts Mathematical Literacy
Economics Music
Engineering Graphics and Design Physical Sciences
Geography Religion Studies
History Visual Arts
Information Technology Consumer Studies

Unit 2: Admission Point Score (APS) for institutions of high learning

The Admission Point Scores (APSs) for universities differ from one another. An example of how NMMU's
system works is given below.

How to calculate your APS (NMMU)

 The APS system allocates point values to the marks you got for your matric subjects
 Write down your relevant NSC subjects and the levels obtained.
 Allocate points according to the table below.
 Add up the number of points you have to calculate the APS.

Table 3.7: School Performance Scores (SPS)

NSC NSC % APS APS percentage
8 90 – 100%
7 80 – 100% 7 80 – 89%
6 70 – 79% 6 70 – 79%
5 60 – 69% 5 60 – 69%
4 50 – 59% 4 50 – 59%
3 40 – 49% 3 40 – 49%
2 30 – 39% 2 30 – 39%
1 0 – 29% 0 0 - 29%

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Example

To enrol for the National Diploma: Journalism, you need an APS of at least 32, as well as a National Senior
Certificate (NSC) pass in English on at least level 4 (50 - 59%).

APS points
NSC subject NSC % Level
allocated
English 65% 5 5
isiXhosa 60% 5 5
Mathematics 70% 6 6
Geography 55% 4 4
History 80% 7 7
Life Orientation 74% 6 6
Accounting 71% 6 6
Admission Point Score 39

This student has met the minimum requirements for admission to the national Diploma (Journalism).

Admission requirements for specific programmes/ courses

Once you have met the minimum entry requirements for a college or university, you may be considered for
admission to a specific programme or course. Each programme or course will have a different set of
admission requirements, in addition to the minimum entry requirements.

Unit 3: Options for financial assistance

Money is often the reason why someone is not able to study at tertiary level. You need to take action if you
want to study further. Concentrate and work at your subjects so that your marks are good when you apply
for a loan, bursary, scholarship or learnership.

What you still need to know

Last week you evaluated additional and higher-education options, minimum admission requirements and
admission requirements to specific programmes/courses. It is important to know the admission requirements,
as the costs of courses differ, and you need to know the costs involved beforehand. Today we will
investigate the options available for financial assistance.

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Places to apply to for funding
There are various options one can consider when applying for funding. They include:
 Bursaries: Bursaries are offered by universities, colleges, employers and companies to suitable
candidates, based on financial need and academic performance. Bursaries may also be awarded to
applicants who meet certain geographical or demographic requirements. One can also apply for a
bursary after obtaining good marks during your first years of study at a tertiary institution.
Companies may require that you study something that relates to their industry. Get more info on
bursaries from the Internet or from tertiary institutions.

 Study loans: Borrowing money from a bank, the National Student Financial Aid Fund (NSFAS),
Edu-loan or a sponsor (private, such as family; or a company) to pay for your tertiary studies, and
then you start paying it back once you have completed your studies. The bank will also look at your
marks, and will often only lend you money after you have passed your first year at university. To
apply for a loan through NSFAS you need to apply at the educational institution and not at NSFAS.

 Scholarships: A financial award for academic or sporting excellence or achievement. In certain

cases financial need may be taken into account to decide between candidates of approximately equal
achievement.

 Learnerships: Learn and work at the same time. Twenty-three Sector Education and Training
Authorities (SETAs) organise for training to take place through learnerships in all work sectors in
South Africa, including government sectors. Training must comply with standards as set by the
National Qualifications Framework. The learner enrolls at a tertiary institution and signs a contract
with the employer offering the learnership. You must expect to earn very little while on a
learnership.

Obligations in terms of financial arrangements

Taking responsibility for yourself and your studies means finding out what obligations will come with the
various funding options.
 Bursaries: If you get a bursary from a company, the company will usually require that you 'work
back' the money over a certain period of time. Bursary money usually does not have to be paid back.
You may be required to pay back the money if you do not obtain the qualification.

 Study loans: Study loans are granted at a special low interest rate. You may be required to only start
paying back a study loan once you have finished your studies and have started working. However,
some loans are granted on the condition that a sponsor, such as a parent, start paying the interest on
the loan immediately. Before applying for a study loan, you need to think long and hard about how
much debt you are willing to incur. A study loan will be with you for a long time. Will you be able to
pay it back while still meeting your day-to-day living costs after you have completed your studies?

 Scholarships: The only obligation you incur with a scholarship is that you have to work hard at
maintaining a good performance!

 Learnerships: When you opt for a learnership, you should earn (some) money, rather than having to
pay back any money.

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.
Other costs
It is important to realise that, beside your tuition fees, there are also hidden costs associated with your
studies that may become a huge, disruptive burden. It could bring your studies to a halt if you cannot meet
these financial obligations.

Your expenses will include not only the cost of tuition, but also accommodation, travel and living expenses
(food, clothing and toiletries). Living with family members or friends can be stressful if you do not
contribute to the day-to-day chores or running costs. When making a decision regarding full-time or part-
time studies, you need to consider whether you can afford to look after yourself.

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Sourced from: Botha, L et al. (2012). Life Orientation for the Real World Grade 11. Florida: Vivlia Publishers and Booksellers (PTY) Ltd.