Helping Your Child with Life Orientation
Grades 1 - 12
A parent's guide to Life Orientation (Life Skills in Foundation Phase) ā what it covers, why it matters, and how to support your child from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
What Life Orientation Covers
Life Orientation is more than just PE. It covers five key areas: Development of the Self (self-esteem, emotional intelligence, relationships), Social and Environmental Responsibility (citizenship, rights, environmental awareness), Democracy and Human Rights, Careers and Career Choices (from Grade 7 onwards), and Physical Education. In the Foundation Phase, it is called Life Skills and includes creative arts and physical education.
Why Life Orientation Matters
Many parents and learners dismiss Life Orientation as an "easy" or "unimportant" subject. However, it covers essential topics including: substance abuse prevention, mental health awareness, sexual health education, financial literacy, career guidance, and civic responsibility. These are skills that directly impact your child's wellbeing and decision-making throughout life.
Supporting Life Orientation at Home
Discuss Life Orientation topics openly at home. Talk about career options and what they require. Encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices. Discuss current events to build civic awareness. Support your child in exploring their interests and values as part of career planning.
Life Orientation in the FET Phase
In Grades 10-12, Life Orientation is assessed entirely through SBA (School-Based Assessment) ā there is no final exam. This includes a Physical Education practical assessment, a Common Assessment Task (CAT), and various projects and tasks throughout the year. While it carries fewer credits than other subjects, a poor Life Orientation mark can affect overall promotion.
Grade-by-Grade Life Orientation / Life Skills Content
Common Questions About Life Orientation / Life Skills
Most South African universities exclude Life Orientation when calculating APS (Admission Point Score). However, it still counts towards the National Senior Certificate and school promotion. Some universities include it as a bonus point for students with high Life Orientation marks. Check specific university requirements.
In the FET Phase, Life Orientation is assessed entirely through School-Based Assessment (SBA) because the subject emphasises practical skills, personal development, and physical education ā areas that are better assessed through continuous tasks, projects, and practical demonstrations rather than a written exam.
Career guidance is a significant component of Life Orientation from Grade 7 onwards. Support this at home by: discussing different careers and what they involve, arranging job shadowing opportunities, exploring university and college websites together, taking career aptitude tests (many are available free online), and keeping subject choices aligned with career interests.