A sample survey of the career maturity of disadvantaged learners in the Western Cape
Date
2006-12
Authors
Miller, Annette
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
Organisations have come to exist for a definite purpose, which is to combine and transform scarce factors of
production into products and services with maximum economic utility. They strive to attain the highest
possible output of need satisfying products and/or services with the lowest possible input of production
factors.
In order to achieve the level of growth and development required to enable it to compete in a climate of fierce
international competition from other developed countries, post – apartheid South Africa needs a focused,
motivated and skilled workforce. Yet, the current reality is often that of South African companies’ being
handicapped by an under-skilled and, frequently, under-performing workforce.
In addition, tertiary institutions experience low pass rates and high attrition rates among previously
disadvantaged students, despite efforts to provide extra academic support and enrichment programmes.
In this study, it is believed that one aspect of the difficult that many disadvantaged students have to achieve
either in tertiary study or in the workplace, can be attributed to the lack of career maturity of such learners to
make optimal career choices.
The main objective of this study was to perform an audit of levels of career maturity of a sample of
disadvantaged learners from the Western Cape. Another goal of the research was to attempt to investigate
some envisaged determinants of career maturity in an effort to isolate those that presented as having the
strongest influence on career maturity levels. A model was developed to illustrate these determinants and their
envisaged effect which was tested among previously disadvantaged learners in the Western Cape.
Description
Thesis (MA(Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
Keywords
Theses -- Industrial psychology, High school students -- Vocational guidance -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Children with social disabilities -- Vocational guidance -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Career development -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Career education -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Vocational interests -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Vocational maturity -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology