This study explored the career awareness of learners in grade 9 and their selection of school subjects for their subsequent years of study in the secondary school. This was based in a remote rural setting with a sample of 71 respondents made up of 34 females and 37 males. Their ages ranged from 13 to 24 years old. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted with this group of learners. The findings indicated that some of these learners lack information on careers and are not adequately aware of what the world of work entails. It was found that r when they have to make selections of subjects for their subsequent years of studYr they make choices that are not in any way related to their anticipated careers. SecondlYr they are found not yet ready to think and decide about their future in the world of work indicating a lack of career maturity. Learners were not aware of the link between their work at school and ~vhat they wish to become in future. Lea.rners r/llere not able to account reasonably for their selected subjects and (iii) how they hoped to build a career path from those subjects.Of all activities in which the learners were engaged at school, much emphasis was placed on academic performance and achievements. The significance of the findings of this study as well as its implications are discussed and recommendations are made for research and practice.

Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.