MUT GUIDES ULLOVU GRADE 9 LEARNERS THROUGH SUBJECT AND CAREER CHOICES

ULLOVU – Grade 9 learners at Ullovu Secondary School were given an opportunity to explore the relationship between subject choices and future careers when Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) visited the school on Saturday, 25 July 2026, as part of a community outreach programme.

The engagement focused on helping learners make meaningful decisions as they prepare to choose their subjects for the senior phase of their schooling. MUT representatives guided learners through the importance of understanding their interests, abilities and future aspirations when making subject choices, while highlighting how different subjects can support various career pathways.

The programme was aligned with Ullovu’s different academic streams, allowing learners to consider how their subject choices can connect with future studies and careers. Learners were assisted in understanding the importance of particular subjects for different career pathways and were encouraged to make informed choices rather than selecting subjects based only on the choices of their friends or popular perceptions about particular streams.

A key message from the engagement was that all streams are important and can lead to meaningful opportunities. Learners were encouraged to recognise that different academic pathways provide different opportunities, with the most important consideration being whether their subject choices align with their interests, strengths and future goals.

The engagement also gave learners an opportunity to think beyond their immediate academic decisions and consider the possibilities that exist after Grade 12. By connecting subject choices to future careers and further study, the programme helped learners begin thinking more carefully about the direction they want to take in the years ahead.

As part of the outreach, MUT also provided lunch for the learners, adding to the engagement and creating an opportunity for the university to connect with the school community beyond the formal career guidance session.

The visit formed part of the ongoing long-term partnership between Ullovu Secondary School and Mangosuthu University of Technology. Having already engaged with the school twice this year, MUT continues to support learner development through initiatives that expose learners to career opportunities, further study and meaningful educational experiences. The partnership is expected to continue creating opportunities for Ullovu learners in the years ahead.

For Ullovu’s Grade 9 learners, the programme came at an important stage in their schooling as they prepare to make choices that will shape their academic journey. The engagement reinforced the importance of making those choices with knowledge, purpose and a clear understanding of the opportunities that different subjects and streams can offer.