Demographic variables influencing perceived effectiveness of career guidance during life orientation

Career guidance at secondary schooling level is pivotal in preparing learners for the current globalized workforce and is also a core pillar of Life Orientation. The aim of this study was twofold subsuming determining the effectiveness of career guidance as perceived by 430 Grade 10 learners in the Mangaung area and to determine the demographic variables that influenced said perceived effectiveness. By means of descriptive statistics, personal confidence, personality inventories, knowledge of career plan, overall subject satisfaction and service delivery were examined. Service delivery was further disaggregated to determine the effectiveness of subcomponents. A T-test and MANOVA were performed to investigate the demographic variables. Findings reflect a deficit in the domains of personal confidence and service delivery, with a higher perceived effectiveness pertaining to knowledge and subject satisfaction. Gender, age, home language and type of school statistically significantly influenced perceived effectiveness. Type of school was the most important determinant of perceived effectiveness of career guidance received. Within the South African context these results suggest a lingering influence of segregation as not everyone is privy to effective career guidance hampering economic development and keeping a large part of the country in poverty. It is suggested that the results of the study be used as an impetus to stimulate further study focusing on specific types of schools.