Creating a Future for Every Matriculant: Why Career Pathway Planning Must Start in Grade 10.

Every year, as South Africa celebrates its rising matric pass rate, we bask in the hard work and resilience of our students, parents, teachers, and the government. But behind the celebrations lies a stark question we seem to grapple with too late: what happens to the matriculants who don’t secure a spot at university?

My go-to response is often, “Not every career path requires university.” While true, it leaves a glaring follow-up question unanswered:  if not university, then what? 

What puzzles me most is that we confront this question only after matric results are released. Did we not know these students were coming? Did we not foresee their need for direction? The responsibility is not solely the government’s—it rests with schools, teachers, parents, career coaches, and, frankly, all of us. Why aren’t we planning for their futures long before they cross the finish line? 

A Vision for Early Career Pathway Planning 

Imagine this: a South African education system where every student begins mapping their future as early as Grade 10. At this stage, schools conduct career assessments to identify each student’s interests, potential, and aspirations. Based on these insights, students are guided toward pathways best suited to them—be it university, TVET collages, University of Technology, learnerships, or entry-level jobs. 

By Grade 11, each learner would have a clear direction, spending their final school years not anxiously wondering “What’s next?” but actively preparing for it. By matric, they wouldn’t just have a pass rate to celebrate—they’d have a tangible next step waiting for them. This proactive approach would reduce the stress on students, parents, and even the higher education system, while fostering a sense of purpose and excitement about the future. 

How Do We Make This Happen? 

Building this future isn’t a pipe dream—it’s entirely achievable with a coordinated, multi-level effort:  

1. A National Skills Demand Analysis : Conduct an annual workforce needs audit to identify the industries and skills South Africa requires, from artisans to tech specialists. This should guide not only education curricula but also career counselling in schools. 

2. Industry Collaboration :Businesses, guided by SETAs, must contribute data on job availability, projected skills demand, and workforce needs. This information must filter back into career guidance programs and technical training institutions. 

 3. Job and Learnership Databases :Establish centralised, user-friendly platforms for jobs and learnerships tailored to matriculants. Students can apply directly, and placements can be managed at the district level to ensure accessibility and fairness. 

4. Accountability for Every Student :Implement a tracking system to ensure no student slips through the cracks. Those not placed in university, college, learnerships, or jobs must have an alternative plan designed and actioned before their matric year ends. 

5. Government Department Collaboration : A united effort from the Departments of Basic Education, Higher Education, and Labour is essential. Together, they can conduct assessments, create higher learning opportunity databases, and oversee the placement process.  

Why It Matters 

This approach is as much about fairness as it is about transformation. It ensures every student has a future mapped out based on their strengths, talents, and potential. It removes the burden of uncertainty, eliminating the overwhelming scramble for placements or the despair of unemployment. 

More importantly, it shifts the onus from our youth to us—the adults, decision-makers, and economic stakeholders. We have the power to create opportunities for the next generation. If we don’t take responsibility, who will? 

This isn’t just about planning for careers; it’s about creating hope, building purpose, and fostering a society where every matriculant enters adulthood with a plan, a path, and the tools to succeed. 

A New Mindset 

It’s time to change the narrative around Matric results. Instead of merely reporting on the pass rate, let’s ask: 

- What percentage of our students have been placed in a meaningful pathway?

- What opportunities have been made available to those still unplaced? 

- How are we leveraging businesses, industries, and communities to provide these opportunities?  

The Call to Action 

I know this is an issue you’ve thought about too. Perhaps you even have a better plan than this. Let’s hear it. Share your ideas. What role will you play in building a future where no matriculant is left behind? 

It’s time we stop reacting to the question of “What’s next?” and build a system that ensures every matriculant already has the answer—long before they ask it.