Abstract
The dilemma in vocational guidance in the new democratic South Africa is clear. The rapidly changing social, demographic and economic features of life in South Africa require the immediate provision of culturally relevant vocational services to historically disadvantaged individuals and groups - services which have been as yet non-existent because of the previous systematic and structural exclusion of persons of colour from the development of relevant vocational guidance tests and procedures. In this article the authors suggest the implementation of self-help vocational guidance instruments (SHI’s) as a possible solution to the dilemma. An example of a self-constructed SHI is given as an illustration of how teachers can construct self-help instruments for their schools.
Highlights
In this article the authors suggest the implementation o f self-help vocational guidance instruments (SHI’s) as a possible solution to the dilemma
W ith the advent of more differentiated schools from the 1950s onwards, there was a need to guide learners towards a sensible school choice, and concomitantly, a career choice (Naude & Bodibe, 1986:3, Liebetrau, 1987:3). This differentiated approach was firmly entrenched in the A ct on National Education Policy (Act 39 of 1967), an approach which emphasized the significance of repeated appropriate career choices for the purpose o f leading a fulfilled and successful life (Jacobs et at., 1988:58)
M astery of such skills will enable them to take charge of their lives - and to become efficient and productive members of society (Marais, 1999:10-11). Because of their advantages over standardized instruments, especially because of their highly personalized nature, self-help instrument (SHI)'s are the obvious solution to the dilemma which we have outlined in section 1 : they are imm ediately available, can be adm inistered by any individual under all circum stances
Summary
Econom ic and political conditions in South Africa since the first country-wide dem ocratic elections in 1994 have called for different approaches to labour, education, training and development, and to vocational guidance. If South Africa is to become an efficient inter national role-player, the developm ent of its human resources will have to improve This implies inter alia the more effective provision o f information about career options, employment opportunities, and the most effective ways of accessing education, training and developm ent opportunities (Van der Westhuizen e tal., 1999:103-105). The rapidly changing social, dem ographic and econom ic fea tures o f life in South Africa require the imm ediate provision of culturally relevant vocational services to historically disadvantaged individuals and groups. W e develop a number of criteria against which the suitability of a solution to the dilem m a can be measured, and suggest a few guidelines for the development of a self-help instrument
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