| Summary: | In a rapidly changing South African context, with special reference to Education, the task
of staff members at educational and ancillary centres to include all standard ten pupils into
psychometric tests with a view to making a choice of career, is becoming increasingly
difficult. Since all secondary school pupils are involved in making choices concerning
further training and choice of career, this implies that a greater priority should be afforded
to this aspect.
The development of balanced individuals who must comply with criteria for worthy
citizenship is essential within the total educational framework. Each pupil should be able
to hold his own in a career within an economic system. The basis for the choice of career
which would enable the pupil to accept responsibilities with regard to economic and other
responsibilities is laid by guiding and equipping the pupil with established decision making
skills.
Two questions arise: whether the pupils are capable of making meaningful and responsible
choices and whether the guidance teacher is equipped with sufficient career choice
aids in the career guidance program in order to give meaningful and responsible guidance
towards a successful choice of career.
The need for career choice guidance by school teachers in South Africa is confirmed by
the great number of pupils who annually report for career choice tests at various institutions
within, as well as without school context
The aim of this study was the development of a dichotomous program for choice of career
to be used in addition to insisting psychometric tests in secondary schools.
The dichotomous program was evaluated through research establishing whether correlation
exists between the results of the dichotomous program and that of the psychometric
tests pertaining the choice of career.
During the pilot research 75 respondents were involved. The primary aim of the trial
research was to determine a correlation between the dichotomous program and
psychometric tests. The correlation was determined at 96%. The secondary aim was to
identify and revise vague explanations in the dichotomous program to make it more user
friendly for respondents involved in the research.
During the evaluation of the dichotomous program 772 respondents from 31 secondary
schools in the Gauteng and North-West Provinces were tested. The analysis of the
research results determined that:- • The results of the dichotomous program correlate positively with the results of the psychometric tests (93,996%). • In a 10% range similar results were determined in the dichotomous program as determined in the psychometric tests (VI = 95%) • The results of the dichotomous program are statistically viable (See table 5.2) • The respondents react positively towards the results of the dichotomous program (89,12%). Although the dichotomous program for choice of career can and may never take the place
of psychometric tests, it is advised that the guidance teacher should apply the
dichotomous program at secondary school level as an aid to choice of career. The
dichotomous program can also be used in addition to the existing psychometric tests in
secondary schools.
The use of the dichotomous program at secondary school level can be an effort to
facilitate each boy and girl, in South Africa, who has to make a choice of career. The
choices of studies and careers invariably influence the manpower and economy of South Africa. === Proefskrif (PhD (Voorligting))--PU vir CHO, 1996
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