Grade 9 learners will soon have the exciting task of selecting the subjects they will be taking until matric.
With the list of subjects on offer from the Department of Basic Education learners are spoilt for choice. Choosing which subjects to focus on can have far-reaching effects, says education experts.
“It’s a tough ask of teenagers to make a commitment now, which will affect their ability to gain access to higher education and potentially their qualification of choice in four years’ time, when many are not even sure what they want to study after school,” says Dr Gillian Mooney, Dean: Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider.
She says: “It is therefore very important for them, firstly, to realise the gravity of the potential consequences of the choices they make, and then really to consider the strategy that will keep as many doors as possible open down the line.”
Mooney explains that Grade 9s are required to select at least seven subjects on which they will be tested in matric, four of which are compulsory: Home language, second language, maths or maths literacy, and life orientation. The balance, then, are elective subjects, and should be chosen carefully.
“Because there are no longer so-called designated subjects, learners may be tempted to choose subjects they envision will be comparatively easier than others, in order to gain the best possible matric marks,” she says.
“However, they need to consider not only which subjects will ensure they get admission to higher education, but also which subjects will allow them admission into their chosen qualification. If they don’t yet know what they want to do, they need to make sure that their choice positions them well to access a wide range of qualifications. Their selection must also ensure they can claim a well-rounded education on completion of their schooling.”
Mooney says Grade 9s – with the help of their parents or guardians and ideally even with the help of career and student counsellors from a respected higher education institution – must carefully weigh up their various options and the various combinations of subjects that are suited to them.
“The aim is to choose those subjects that will leave you with a wide range of options, while at the same time also position you optimally to perform well in your last three years of schooling,” she says.
“Your subject choice must enable you to demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking and numeracy, and particularly important is the choice between maths and maths literacy, as many university courses still require core maths.”
Choosing three relatively easy subjects as electives may help a learner achieve good aggregate marks, but their options will be limited if their education doesn’t incorporate those subjects that teach logic and argumentation as well as scientific and reasoning skills, as found, for instance, in history, accountancy and maths, and physical and life sciences.
“So it would not be wise to go for the short-term gain of spectacular marks, instead of implementing a long-term vision which will support a holistic academic development, as the impact on the future student’s studies – which require higher reasoning than what is expected at school – will be significant, even if they do qualify for study,” Mooney points out.
“The best way to future-proof your study options and therefore career choices as well as your ability to be resilient and adapt to currently unpredictable changes in the world of work is to get as solid a grounding as possible in one’s last three years of school, even if it is going to be more challenging.
“Before making your choice, make an effort to gain as much information about admission requirements for potential career paths from a wide range of higher education institutions, and then to work back to ensure that your subjects will enable you to enter those fields. Very importantly, however, ensure that your choices reflect a wide enough range to develop an extended skills base which will serve you well into the future.”
