Education
With reference to career clubs at public schools in the province:
(1) (a)(i) How many public schools currently have career clubs and (ii) how many learners participated in such programmes during the 2025 academic year, (b) what support does his Department provide to schools to establish and maintain career clubs and (c) what partnerships, if any, has his Department entered into to support career guidance initiatives in schools;
(2) whether his Department has assessed the effectiveness of career clubs in assisting learners with subject choices; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there are plans to expand career clubs in the 2026 academic year; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether his Department allocates any funds to career clubs, if so, how much was allocated in (a) 2025 and (b) 2026?
My department has informed me of the following:
(1) (a) During the 2025 academic year, we established Career Clubs at 232 high schools across the province, with more than 250 000 learners participating in the various programmes.
(b) Each of the 232 high schools received an allocation of R 17 500 to establish their respective Career Clubs.
(c) We have partnerships with Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), all the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, private colleges and industry partnerships.
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(2) Career planning is part of the Life Orientation curriculum from Grade 7 to Grade 12, so it is a curriculum imperative. We have seen the impact of the programme in our schools already not only from the schools directly but also from the public engaging on this initiative. During this process we have exposed learners to careers in the sport and leisure industry, the arts, drone technology, wholesale and retail, tourism and hospitality, and Business Process Outsourcing, amongst others.
(3) We are in the process of establishing Career Clubs in 152 primary schools across the province to support learners in Grade 6 and 7 so they are prepared for subject and school choices in high school.
(4) The programme is funded through the Western Cape Government Growth for Jobs Strategy by an allocation from the Provincial Treasury. An allocation of R5 million was provided for 2025 and R5 million for 2026.
