Exploring the motivation of grade 9 learners in their subjects’ choices in a school in Nqutu: a case study.

Abstract

This is a qualitative study that is intended to explore the motivation of grade 9 learners in their subjects’ choices in a school in Nqutu: a case study. Using Lent’s Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) explored how subject choice affect the career decision of a learner and its influences thereafter. The case study methodology has been used together with two methods of generating data. Participants were interviewed and had to write a one-page essay titled my future career reflecting on their future career choice. I used the random sampling method to recruit twelve participants. The findings of the study emphasise that grade nine learners are mostly on their own with little assistance they get from subjects’ educators regarding the choice of subjects at grade ten. The study also indicated that parental support, most parents left the decision to be taken by the learners; they only advised them to choose right. Another important finding is that in the area of Nqutu, uMzinyathi district, not all grade nine learners are taken for career expo or career guidance, unlike in other districts like aMajuba district where all the grade 9 learners are invited into a common venue for subjects’ choice. What was also evidenced in the study was that the world of work term four chapters in the Life Orientations chapter is not dealt with in grade 9 in preparation for grade ten subjects’ choice. The study reveals that the subject choice at grade 9 is neglected. As a result, learners do not choose subjects correctly; as a result, they fail in the FET phase or else fail their first year at tertiary, and they change courses. I, therefore, suggest a policy that will promote more advocacy programmes on subject’s choice across the country by the national department of education to provinces and then districts to schools.