Choices play important roles in shaping the course of our lives. A career choice is one of them which are extremely pivotal. A wise choice leads to a brighter future. Educational institutions assist students with the necessary help to develop their skills, and discern their career by providing them with guidance.However, many schools in Goa are yet to implement career guidance classes for their students. Lack of career guidance often creates situations where students are wrongly influenced by their peers and others and opt for the wrong career. Some times they are influenced by unsuitable advice of family, relatives, friends and neighbours, hence, every child requires to be given tips on carrier guidance and education department and school managements have to address this issue, opine teachers.
Some suggest that the education department should produce and circulate career guidance manuals, particularly to rural schools.
Educationists say career guidance should advice students on developing decision making skills, developing resilience to manage a career. The advisors should also determine the qualities and talents of the students and advice accordingly, so that students can make informed choices.
Head master of Our Lady of Rosary high school, Fatorda, Mr Gromiko Fernandes who is the recipient of the best teacher national award opines that in his school career guidance is implemented by conducting programmes which help teenagers identify their abilities, interests, talents and special characteristics. He said that career planning is one of the most crucial factors in a student’s life. He informs, “We conduct seminars on carrier guidance, on leadership qualities for students by inviting resource persons. He said that whether you opt for jobs or prefer to be self-employed, there is fierce competition for getting a space in the world of work. We have to provide help not only to specific individuals like school students, college students but others like parents in order to help them facilitate their children in realising their abilities”.
Mr M S Naik, a college lecturer said that carrier guidance has to be made available to students of all the ages. He said that we must not ask any one to decide for a child’s career and refrain from forcing students to make a choice. After all it is your child who is going to face the future based on his/her decision. So find out the right interest and aptitude of students. Mr Girish Chodankar, president of the Higher Secondary Teachers Association of Goa (HISTAG) said that career guidance is very much essential for students in higher secondary. It is unfortunate that 80% of the students getting admission in XI th Std are not even aware of basic careers options. They take admissions based on their percentage or some other reason. It looks like more and more students are competing for select careers rather than opting for less competitive careers.
Many feel that educational institutions, education departments, boards and teachers at large should give more thrust on career options to the students. In Goa, it is noticed that there is a growing mismatch between jobs created by industry and the education curriculum taught in schools. This has resulted in an increase of educated unemployment.
Dr Myrtle Caldeira, headmistress of Holy Spirit Institute said that carrier guidance is necessary for students at a school level itself. Wrong career choices can be harmful. After spending 10 years of schooling many students feel that they remain with their friends forever, so they intend to join the career line which their friends are joining. But in this case the career chosen may not be suited as the level of the student is not up to the required mark. Each child has to attend seminars for career guidance after SSC/Higher secondary which many schools arrange for their students or even many private organizations arrange. It is not enough to teach students to pass exams; they should be guided to take up subject combinations that will lead them to choose courses of their interest and that which will match their abilities. She said that in her school, seminars on carrier guidance are regularly held.
The president of All Goa secondary school teachers association, Mr Vithoba Dessai said that there are no much career guidance facilities in rural areas. The urban areas have more educational institutions and so have more career guidance programmes. On the contrary there is no knowledge about possible opportunities to the rural students. Whenever, the career guidance courses are likely to be organized the students from rural area should be given an opportunity.
Ms Sujata Naik, a primary school teacher says that the level of awareness on careers of the rural students should be increased.
Source:http://www.navhindtimes.in/south-goa-monitor/rural-students-lag-behind-career-guidance