PRESS RELEASE: KZN Department of Education takes decisive steps to address career paths for learners
In an ongoing effort to address the high dropout rate at university and to assist learners to choose a career path, the KZN Department of Education has taken decisive steps to provide support to learners and parents. The assistance is two-tiered:
• Subject combinations that are tailored to specific paths have been designed to assist the learner in Grades 10-12 to choose a career path
• Information sessions will be conducted for both learners and parents, outlining these career paths as well as the corresponding subject combinations
It is clear that many learners do not understand the outcomes of studying certain subjects, especially on how it impacts on their career paths. SAICA is particularly pleased with this initiative and hopes that this is replicated in other provinces. The stumbling block with learners wanting to choose a career as a chartered accountant is the choice of maths literacy rather than core mathematics. With this initiative in place learners will know beforehand that choosing maths literacy can be restrictive in many career choices, including that of a chartered accountant.
Equally encouraging is the option that principals have of reversing subject choice combinations in 2013, allowing learners who have made erroneous choices to choose a subject combination that will allow them to pursue their desired career path.
“We have decided to declare August the month during which all learners in Grade 9 and their parents will be informed about subject choices that are offered in Grades 10-12. This is intended to provide adequate opportunities for learners to consider their career options and therefore take appropriate subject combinations in Grades 10-12,” says MEC for Education in KZN, Senzo Mchunu.
SAICA is concerned with the quality mathematics passes and the declining maths pass rate among the country’s matriculants. South Africa has also seen a steady decline on a yearly basis of the number of pupils who choose mathematics as most learners are opting for mathematics literacy. The institute has appealed for commitment and involvement from learners, students, parents, teachers, school governing bodies and government to ensure that the country produces high quality matric learners who are eligible to study key professions such as accounting, engineering, commerce and science.
According to Naeem Asvat, Regional executive: SAICA Eastern Region, “SAICA congratulates the KZN Department of Education for being proactive and taking steps in ensuring that learners now have the option of making better informed decisions on a crucial issue such as a career choice. SAICA has always found it a challenge to recruit quality learners from African and Coloured communities to study toward becoming chartered accountants. Somehow many of these learners opted for maths literacy instead of the required core mathematics. This bold step paves the way for a new breed of learners filtering through the ranks and choosing chartered accountancy as a profession. I am hopeful that other provincial education departments will follow suit.”
SAICA Media Contacts
Yuven Gounden
Project Manager: Transformation and Growth SAICA Communications & Marketing Division
Tel: 011 621 6621
Email: yuveng@saica.co.za
Nkolola Halwindi
Project Director: Communication
SAICA Communications & Marketing Division
Tel: 011 621 6713
Email: NkololaH@saica.co.za
ABOUT SAICA
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 34 000 members who are Chartered Accountants and hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in their spheres of business operation. Most of these members operate in commerce and industry, and play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.
SAICA serves the interests not only of the Chartered Accountancy profession, but also of society in general through its key objective of upholding professional standards and integrity. The pre-eminence of South African Chartered Accountants [CAs(SA)] nationally and internationally attests to the successes achieved by SAICA on a broad global canvas. SAICA’s members enjoy the privilege of using the highly regarded and prestigious CA(SA) designation. Members of SAICA are subjected to a Code of Professional Conduct, which provides guidelines for ethical and professional behaviour.
SAICA members serve on international accounting bodies including; the Trustees of the International Financial Reporting (IFRS) Foundation, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the IFRS Interpretations Committee, the IFRS Advisory Council and the Council of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). SAICA is also a member of The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA). For more information visit www.saica.co.za
About the Thuthuka Bursary Fund and Thuthuka Education Upliftment Project:
One of SAICA’s prime goals is to strengthen the country’s economy by playing a significant and leading role in transformation and skills development. The Thuthuka Education Upliftment Project, a pioneering initiative to promote transformation in the profession, was launched in the Eastern Cape in 2002 and is fast growing into a national project. Thuthuka’s objective is to transform the demographics of the profession to reflect those of the country in terms of race and gender, and provide educational support to African learners and students for the benefit of the profession while simultaneously helping to uplift communities. Therefore, SAICA prides itself in leading the chartered accountancy profession as a socially responsible driver of business and skills development by supporting and encouraging enterprise development initiatives.
Yuven Gounden
Project Manager: Transformation and Growth SAICA Communications & Marketing Division
Tel: 011 621 6621
Email: yuveng@saica.co.za
Nkolola Halwindi
Project Director: Communication
SAICA Communications & Marketing Division
Tel: 011 621 6713
Email: NkololaH@saica.co.za
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