Social Cluster
People-centred careers across education, health, safety, social development and local government.
See career portalsIn-school & virtual · 6–12 September 2027Careers education,
Careers education,
in every school.
National Careers Week is relaunched for 2027 — a dedicated careers week in Term 3, Week 8, delivered on school premises and through an immersive virtual platform, so every learner from ECD to Grade 12 gets structured career exposure. Free to take part.
6–12 September 2027In every school · Term 3, Week 8 · + the NCW virtual platform
2021
Launched in 2021, relaunched for 2027
0 hrs
Careers exposure by Grade 12
ECD–0
In the curriculum, every grade
Free
In every school, in person & online
In partnership with
+ SETAs, WorldSkills SA, universities, TVET colleges & employers
About the relaunch
Careers week, strengthened in the curriculum.
First launched in 2021, National Careers Week is relaunched for 2027 as an inter-departmental careers programme built on two rules: in-school only, and a dedicated week in Term 3, Week 8 for every grade.
It closes the gap for rural and marginalised schools that receive few visitors — bringing career talks, try-a-skill activities and guidance onto school grounds, and a virtual exhibition platform to reach every learner from ECD to Grade 12.
Theme · Sustainable Livelihoods
Career DevelopmentEntrepreneurial EducationSustainability
Learners (ECD–Grade 12)Parents & guardiansTeachersStudents & alumniEmployers & industrySETAs & entrepreneurs
In every school
In-school delivery brings career talks and try-a-skill activities to school grounds — so no learner is excluded by where they live.
In the curriculum
A dedicated careers week in Term 3, Week 8, adopted into the CAPS curriculum for all grades.
In person & virtual
Delivered on school premises and through the immersive NCW virtual exhibition platform — accessible on any device, even in remote areas.
For sustainable livelihoods
Themed around career development, entrepreneurial education and sustainability — helping learners build livelihoods, not just find jobs.
National footprint
Provincial activations with DBE & DEL.
Careers Week consultative and activation workshops run across the provinces, led with the Departments of Basic Education (DBE) and Employment & Labour (DEL).
Draft programme
One week, in every school.
Term 3, Week 8 — a virtual national launch, then in-school career talks, try-a-skill, entrepreneurship and guidance, plus a community weekend and the NCW Awards. Every session is free, in person and online.
Monday · 6 September
Opening & the world of work
- 09:00Keynote
National virtual launch, streamed to every school
All grades
- 10:00Keynote
Keynotes from the partner Ministries
DBE · DHET · DEL · DSBD
- 11:30Panel
WorldSkills Artisan Development spotlight
Career Building
- 13:00Workshop
Careers in the curriculum: a guide for teachers
Educators
Illustrative programme (times in SAST) — schools tailor activities to their grades using the NCW guidelines and lesson plans.
Sector clusters
Six clusters, every SETA.
A short quiz helps each learner find their sector cluster — then connects them to the SETAs, institutions and employers with the study paths, learnerships and jobs in that space.
Services Cluster
Careers in tourism, hospitality, wholesale & retail, transport and everyday services that keep the country moving.
Aligned SETAs
Goods Cluster
Making and manufacturing careers — engineering, chemicals, fibre & processing, and food & beverage.
Aligned SETAs
Finance Cluster
Careers in finance, accounting, banking and insurance across the economy.
See career portalsResources Cluster
Energy, agriculture, mining and construction careers that build South Africa.
See career portalsTech Cluster
Digital, media, ICT and technology careers shaping the future of work.
Aligned SETAs
Not sure where you fit?
Take the sector-cluster quiz. It points each learner to the clusters, SETAs and opportunities that match their interests.
Why take part
Leave with more than inspiration.
Every session is designed to move you one concrete step closer to a study place, a learnership or a job. Here’s what that looks like.
01
Every learner gets a career talk
At least one guest-speaker career talk each year, building to 77 hours of careers exposure by Grade 12 — research links this to better attitudes and outcomes.
02
It reaches every school
In-school delivery closes the gap for rural and underserved schools that are usually excluded from career exhibitions.
03
Go back and give back
Students and alumni pledge to return to their schools to share their career journeys as relatable role models — in person and online.
04
Meet employers & entrepreneurs
Guest speakers, industry partners, SETAs and DEL employment counsellors connect learners to real jobs, trades and enterprise.
05
Try a skill
WorldSkills South Africa advocacy and live try-a-skill demonstrations put artisanal trades in learners' hands as a career of choice.
06
Anywhere, on any device
The immersive virtual exhibition platform reaches learners in remote areas on desktop, mobile or VR — no special software needed.
Ways to take part
Join however suits you.
Whether you’re across the world or across town, there’s a way to be part of the week — live, in person, or entirely on your own schedule.
Brought to you with
- Schools (ECD–Grade 12)
- Parents & communities
- Teachers
- TVET colleges & universities
- SETAs
- Employers & entrepreneurs
01
In-school engagement
Community guests, parents and local industry host career talks and try-a-skill demonstrations directly on school premises.
02
Virtual platforms
Join immersive online platforms — plenary and masterclass sessions, exhibitor booths and classroom zones — with gamified activities and awards.
03
Take the pledge
Learners, students and alumni pledge to go back to their school to talk about their career journey. #CareersWeek
04
Bring in the community
Over the weekend, schools host parents and community members for speed interviews, try-a-skill and the national celebration.
Voices of the week
Guest speakers & role models.
Career talks are the heart of the week. Guest speakers, WorldSkills artisans, entrepreneurs, employment counsellors and alumni return to schools to share their career journeys — in person and online.
DT
Dr. Thandiwe Mokoena
Registered Career Practitioner, SACDA
Gauteng
SD
Sipho Dlamini
WorldSkills Artisan & Try-a-Skill Mentor
KwaZulu-Natal
AB
Anele Booysen
Software Engineer & Alumni Role Model
Western Cape
LN
Lerato Nkosi
Founder & Entrepreneurship Speaker
Free State
JV
Johan van Wyk
DEL Employment Counsellor
Eastern Cape
NP
Naledi Phiri
Life-Orientation Teacher & Careers Lead
Limpopo
FI
Fatima Ismail
Nursing Educator & Guest Speaker
Mpumalanga
KS
Karabo Sithole
SETA Skills Advisor
North West
…and many more voices from across all nine provinces. Register to see the full line-up.
Partners & supporters
Backed by government, powered by partners.
National Careers Week is made possible by government departments, SETAs, institutions and employers that host activities, share resources and connect with young South Africans.
- DBE
- DHET
- DEL
- DSBD
- SACDA
- SETAs
- WorldSkills South Africa
- NSFAS
- Universities & TVET Colleges
How to take part
From sign-up to celebration, in four steps.
01
Register your participation
Sign up your school, organisation or yourself to get the NCW guidelines, lesson plans and virtual-platform access for Term 3, Week 8.
02
Plan your week
Book guest speakers and try-a-skill activities, take the sector-cluster quiz, and use the lesson plans and learner workbooks.
03
Celebrate careers in Week 8
Host career talks in-school and join the virtual exhibition, 6–12 September 2027 — with parents and community over the weekend.
04
Pledge, share & be recognised
Take the pledge, share your best practices, and enter the NCW Awards national celebration.
What people say
Careers changed, one week at a time.
“For the first time, career talks came to our school. Learners who'd never met a professional could ask an artisan and an engineer about their journeys.”
Principal
rural school, Eastern Cape
“Having careers week in Term 3, Week 8 means it's planned for every grade — not a once-off for a lucky few. The lesson plans made it easy.”
Life-Orientation teacher
Limpopo
“I went back to my old school to talk about my career journey. Seeing the learners realise it's possible for them too — that's why I took the pledge.”
University student & alumni role model
Gauteng
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know.
What is National Careers Week?
National Careers Week (NCW) is an inter-departmental civil careers programme, first launched in 2021 and relaunched for 2027. It brings structured careers education to every school — in person and through a virtual exhibition platform — during Term 3, Week 8 each year.
When does NCW 2027 take place?
6–12 September 2027, which falls in Term 3, Week 8 of the school calendar. Careers week is a seven-day programme, with schools encouraged to host parents and community members over the weekend.
Where does it happen?
On school premises. A core principle of the relaunch is 'in-school only', so career exposure reaches the rural and marginalised schools that receive few visitors. A virtual exhibition platform runs alongside it, accessible on any device — even in low-connectivity areas.
Who runs National Careers Week?
It is coordinated by the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET), Department of Employment & Labour (DEL), Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and SACDA, which chairs the steering and coordinating committees, together with the SETAs and WorldSkills South Africa.
What is the theme?
Sustainable Livelihoods — bringing together career development, entrepreneurial education and sustainability so learners can build livelihoods, become artisans and entrepreneurs, and improve their employability.
How can my school get involved?
Register to receive the NCW guidelines, lesson plans and learner workbooks, the sector-cluster quiz, and access to the virtual exhibition platform. Then host career talks and try-a-skill activities in Term 3, Week 8.
What is the pledge?
“I pledge to go back to my school to talk about my career journey.” Students, alumni and professionals pledge to return to their schools as role models — sharing #CareersWeek.
Register
Get involved & take the pledge.
Register your school, organisation or yourself to receive the guidelines, lesson plans, the sector-cluster quiz and access to the virtual exhibition platform for Term 3, Week 8.
“I pledge to go back to my school to talk about my career journey.”
Your story could be the reason a learner does not give up.
#CareersWeek
- NCW guidelines, lesson plans & learner workbooks
- The sector-cluster quiz for your learners
- Access to the immersive virtual exhibition platform
- A chance to enter the NCW Awards national celebration
6–12 September 2027 · Term 3, Week 8Free to take part
Register for National Careers Week 2027
Takes under two minutes. No payment, ever.