Tendai Nyambara
The long-held belief that a university degree guarantees career success is being increasingly questioned, with a career expert urging parents and students to rethink post-Advanced level choices in line with changing economic realities.
Speaking during the Weekly Pulse discussion titled “Post A Level: Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Youths on Career Choices,” career coach and counselling enthusiast Thando Nkomo said a university degree should no longer be viewed as an automatic “insurance policy,” particularly in the post-Covid-19 era.
“In real terms a degree was not ever really an insurance. It’s just that people didn’t have a good perspective on the value of a degree,” Nkomo said.
Nkomo, who also serves as the Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, highlighted that alternative pathways such as polytechnic diplomas and apprenticeships have always existed but were historically overlooked.
“Getting a diploma at a polytechnic or doing an apprenticeship with a trade-related organisation have always been available options that tended not to get the spotlight they deserve,” he said, noting that shifting industrial dynamics have broadened awareness of diverse career opportunities.
According to Nkomo, parental pressure to send children straight to university is often driven by misinformation and social status rather than informed career planning.
“The good vibe that comes with telling people ‘my child is at university’ has been a major contributor. I don’t blame parents—they came from a time when it was indeed a good thing to have a degree,” he explained.
He also raised concern over the lack of qualified and well-resourced career guidance in schools, describing access to reliable career decision-making information as a major gap affecting students, parents and educators alike.
“It is unfortunate that in many cases those providing career guidance are not qualified, empowered or resourced to provide informed guidance,” Nkomo said. “This gap needs to be addressed, and it is the gap we seek to close through initiatives like Scholastica.”
Addressing the issue of student burnout, Nkomo warned that forcing exhausted students into university without proper guidance could lead to failure.
“Failure is driven by making wrong or uninformed decisions about a career path. An energetic student without the right guidance will still be a sad statistic,” he said, adding that while gap years can help with rest, they do not correct misinformation.
Nkomo stressed that sustainable income comes from developing skills that meet real needs, rather than chasing short-term promises of “high-income” careers.
“Any skill that meets the needs of people or businesses will give a good return if developed properly,” he said.
The discussion underscored growing calls for stronger collaboration between parents, educators, career professionals and industry to help young people make informed, realistic and sustainable career choices beyond traditional university routes.
