SASSETA Career Fair Opens Pathways to Future Careers For Young Learners in Thabo Mofutsanyana District in the Free State Province
The Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA) brought career guidance and skills development opportunities closer to young people in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality through a Career Fair aimed at Grade 9 and Grade 10 learners from underprivileged schools in the district.
Held at the Multipurpose Centre in Phuthaditjhaba, the Career Fair formed part of the Career Choices flagship Programme announced by the Minister of Higher Education, Minister Buti Manamela.
The initiative is aimed at exposing learners to the full range of career opportunities
available to them and helping them make informed decisions about study and work pathways that align with their aspirations and the needs of the economy.
The event was hosted with the approval of the Free State Office of the Premier and the Free
State Department of Education.
With up to 2,000 learners expected to attend, the Career Fair provides an opportunity for
learners to engage directly with institutions and organisations representing different sectors
and career pathways.
Participating institutions were invited to establish interactive exhibitions showcasing the career and funding opportunities available within their respective sectors.
Learners were encouraged to engage with representatives, access information and take home educational and promotional material to assist them in considering their future options.
For learners at the Grade 9 and Grade 10 level, early exposure to career possibilities is
particularly important as they begin making decisions that can influence their subject choices, further education and eventual entry into the workplace.
The Career Fair also highlighted the importance of connecting young people to opportunities
that extend beyond traditional career choices, while encouraging them to consider pathways
linked to service, discipline and skills development.
Of significance is the fact that learners were taken through aptitude tests to ascertain their inherent abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, numerical and verbal skills, spatial awareness and other areas.
These tests further provided learners with cognitive strengths, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about career choices, skill development, and future personal growth.
Speaking at the Career Fair , SASSETA Executive Manager Juwayria Amod indicated that SASSETA would be “adopting’ 3 of the 20 schools and will provide those schools with further support on an individual basis.
She indicated that SASSETA would provide the top performing learners from these schools with bursaries to study further at public higher education institutions.
Through initiatives such as the Career Fair, SASSETA continues to contribute to creating
greater awareness of opportunities within the safety and security sector and supporting young people as they begin to navigate their education and career journeys.
