The Role of Social Sciences and Humanities Programmes in Developing School Leavers through Open, Distance and Digital Education (ODDE)

Abstract

Open, Distance and Digital Education (ODDE) has created wider access to higher education for school leavers who begin at an early stage. Within this setting, programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) provide structured academic exposure that supports both personal growth and workplace development. This study examines how selected FSSH programmes contribute to the development of school leavers enrolled through ODDE. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through document analysis involving programme curricula, course outlines, learning outcomes, and assessment structures within English languages and Counselling programmes. The findings indicate that the integration of theoretical grounding, applied learning tasks, and reflective components supports the development of critical thinking, interpersonal communication, self-regulation, and ethical awareness relevant to workplace contexts. Programme documents further reflect intentional alignment between academic content and real-life social challenges encountered by school leavers. Flexible ODDE learning structures and assessment designs support sustained participation alongside employment commitments. The study highlights the role of FSSH programmes as a developmental platform that connects academic learning with practical competency formation. Overall, the findings suggest that Social Sciences and Humanities education delivered through ODDE offers a viable pathway for nurturing work-ready competencies and supporting early career development among school leavers.