Fairmont High School has made a different choice, by implementing Yenza – a career guidance app. The app relieves learners’ anxiety about the future by allowing them to explore different career options and align them with personal strengths, goals, and interests. 

Schoolscape spoke to Anne Friedenthal from Fairmont High to find out how Yenza is making a real impact in their school community so that you can do the same. 

Why Yenza Stands Out from Other Career Guidance Tools

While many career guidance platforms provide data, Yenza goes further by delivering personalised recommendations in a learner-friendly format and making career planning more intuitive and empowering.

“Yenza has a lot more information than other career solutions I’ve seen and packages that information in a way that is very accessible for learners.” Anne confirmed. 

How Yenza Manages Operationally in a School Environment

“Very easy. Each learner gets their own access code by email and there have been no issues thus far,” Anne discussed with us. 

Therefore, the platform is easy to operate, and can be implemented hassle-free in school settings. The IT team receives clear onboarding instructions that makes for a smooth implementation in schools.  

Even during Covid-19, Yenza proved vital to Fairmont Highs’ Grade 9s.

“We experienced no disruption. The platform is self-directed and works perfectly from home,” Anne confirmed. 

The platform is cloud-based and learner-led and students were able to continue their career exploration independently despite a global pandemic and school closures. 

Empowering Learners through Personalised Career Guidance

“Yenza gives a broad picture of a learner’s strengths, interests, and potential career paths,” Anne shared with us. 

The platform goes beyond surveys and little activities, and encourages deep reflection which helps learners to understand why certain careers will suit them. Learners are then encouraged to make informed subject choices that align with their long-term career goals. 

Instead of pushing learners towards a small list of careers, Yenza empowers them to explore, compare potential options, and make educated decisions based on data, personal insights, and career guidance. 

Anne discussed that, “the process is easy, fast, and helpful. Learners come to their own conclusions.”

A Powerful Teaching Aid for LO & Career Guidance Staff

The platform goes beyond a simple ‘career guidance’ app, it is an educational tool. 

“Yenza gives us more ‘meat’ to use in our lessons,” Anne shared. 

Educators and guidance staff are able to provide valuable one-on-one advice to their learners that would have been otherwise impossible. Yenza steps in as a digital assistant to aid teachers with reliable content and lesson enrichment materials. 

“It’s hard to get young kids engaged, but Yenza definitely does this!” 

Learners not only used the app but meaningfully engaged with it. For teachers and career guidance staff, this kind of engagement and positive feedback feels like a gold star!

Does Fairmont Recommend Yenza?

“It’s very good value for money. We love that we can add our Grade 11’s at no additional cost.”

Yenza is therefore budget-friendly, making it an ideal long-term solution to career guidance in schools. 

Fairmont recommends Yenza to other schools because it boasts these features:

• Instant feedback
• Clear in-App guidance for self-directed learning
• Queries are handled efficiently
• No hiccups

To Find out More About Yenza

Contact Jared Molko, via email at [email protected] or contact him on 076 958 5885.  To view their website, click here

Schoolscape knows that Grade 9 subject choice is stressful because it is important for learners’ future career successes.

Hilton College, a prestigious school in the midlands of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, has tried many platforms over the years. However, most required too much technical support. Now they rely on Yenza, a digital career platform that is popular in South Africa for subject choice guidance. 

We sat down with Janna de Gouveia, an accomplished career counsellor at Hilton, to unpack how the school implemented Yenza. We’ve pinpointed why the platform is critical for learners’ subject choices so you don’t have to!

What makes Yenza Different

“It’s more comprehensive and more research-based than other platforms I’ve used. It gave me everything I needed to support learners, technically and psychologically.”

Teachers often struggle to provide one-on-one attention to learners during. Janna appreciates Yenza, because it is built for learners and educators. 

Unlike other platforms, Yenza is easy to implement. Because:

• It doesn’t rely on technical software that is difficult to implement and maintain.
• It works seamlessly on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
• Switching between in-person and online was easy!

A Reliable and Stable Platform

The platform is digital and reliable, with no disruptions. 

“Some Grade 9 learners completed the work in class. But during Covid-19, learners were sent home. There were no major problems when we switched to online learning.”

The easiness of Yenza, allows learners to move through subject choice activities on their own.

“I created individual reports for each learner to detail their progress on modules. The parents have access too, so they are able to use the site to answer any questions.”

Helping Learners take Ownership over Subject Choices

As important as subject choice in Grade 9 is, it’s a personal decision. Yenza allowed learners to use the platform at their own pace to explore options. 

“The learners still need to take responsibility and use their profiles. But the platform gives the opportunity to engage.”

Parents and teachers can use the digital platform to encourage learners to put in the work.

“I can direct parents to the site, and use it to answer their questions about their child’s progress.”

Lightening the Load for Teachers

For guidance counsellors and Life Orientation teachers, individual subject choice conversations are not always possible. Yenza reduces the pressure.

“I compile individual reports for each learner, and use this report when parents or learners need help.”

Therefore, lessening the workload and speeding up the process. 

High-Value for Schools

“Yenza gets the balance right in terms of allowing professionals the space to use their data for their own purposes whilst giving students something to work with and on so they are invested.”

After more than a decade of experience, Janna found excellent value in Yenza because it benefits teachers and learners. Not only for Grade 9s, but also for Grade 11s as they jobshadow.

“The jobshadowing module will help them choose the careers they are interested in and narrow their focus. Then they can shadow one or two jobs and find a meaningful career.”

Hilton College recommends Yenza

We asked Janna if Hilton College recommends Yenza and she didn’t hesitate.

“Yes – it is cost effective, quick and very easy to administer.”

The subject choice period at school can be intimidating. But a digital platform that is affordable and user-friendly removes unnecessary pressure from the process.

Want to learn more?

Schoolscape believes innovation is key for success in schools. If you’re in need of a process to make subject choices easier and engaging, then contact Yenza!

Reach out to: [email protected]

If you want to read more blogs like this then check out Schoolscape’s Case Studies.

As the online world becomes more complex, school systems face the growing responsibility of equipping students with digital competency skills. Western Province Preparatory School (WPPS) took action by implementing a forward-thinking program from MySociaLife. 

The digital competency platform addresses real-world challenges in a learner-accessible manner. Thus educating learners on appropriate technology use. 

Schoolscape spoke to Alexa Todd-Mason, a WPPS teacher, to understand why this program was needed, and the impact digital competency training has already made. 

Why Digital Competence Matters in Modern Classrooms

“If we expect students to use digital tools, we must also teach them how to manage their use safely,” explains Alexa. 

WPPS recognised the critical need to develop digital competence, not just technical skills, but also emotional intelligence and critical thinking when interacting online. Therefore, learners are taught about all aspects of digital media, including the risks of misusing technology. 

Challenges Schools Face with Online Behaviour 

Inside the classroom walls, teachers often deal with minor issues such as students messaging friends or playing games during class time. However, more serious digital risks exist, and these typically happen without supervision. Including:

• social media misuse
• online harassment
• exposure to inappropriate content

“These issues change faster than parents or teachers can manage – which is why education is so important” Alexa shared. 

WPPS looked to MySociaLife to stay ahead of these fast-evolving challenges and support learners in building digital competency skills that extend far beyond school walls. 

Students are More Aware and More Responsible 

Since integrating the program, WPPS noticed an immediate improvement in learner awareness and behaviour:

• Learners are more cautious online
• They have an understanding about how their digital actions can impact others
• They are more confident in making smart online decisions 

“They are far more aware of their digital responsibility,” Alexa commented. 

Evidently, digital competency is not just about using digital tools. It’s about understanding safety, impact, and self-control when online. 

Making Digital Topics Relatable 

Dean McCoubrey, MySocialLife’s founder, is praised by both teachers and learners for his engaging delivery at WPPS. 

“Dean is dynamic, passionate, and relevant. His content connects with exactly what students are going through.”

Expert insights, real-word experiences, and relatability ensure that every session is impactful and meaningful.

“The content keeps pace with digital trends, and that’s crucial for real engagement”.

The flexibility and adaptability is key to educating learners on digital competency as it evolves with the platforms learners actually use.

Would WPPS Recommend MySocialLife?

Without any hesitation at all.

“Absolutely.”

WPPS sees digital competence as a critical life skill for their learners, and strongly believes that each school should be proactive in teaching and practicing it. 

Interested in Bringing MySocialLife to Your School?

Schoolscape understands that cybersecurity is key in the modern classroom. If you would like more information about MySociaLife and would like to get hold of them to do something similar at your school, here is their contact information:

Send an email to [email protected]

Or visit mysocialife.com

For more blogs about school innovations, see Schoolscape’s Case Studies