STUDENTS in the Primary schools would have completed their final examinations by now. They are now idle.
Some do not even bother to come to school. Unless schools create activities for them, you can’t get their attention. What can schools do to keep them engaged?
Career Guidance is one of the solutions. By career guidance, it is not meant that we organise a series of talks on various careers in school. That can be boring specially for those who are not really interested in becoming doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.
Furthermore listening to a speaker for more than one hour can be really frustrating.
ADVERTISEMENT
What else can we do?
Visit to Training Centres
The government is talking about blue coloured jobs. We have to get our future youths to be interested in learning skills.
Only if we start early, we will be able to see some results.
Many Training Centres have their own transport such as vans and buses. They can provide the transportation for the students to visit their centres.
Students can be taken for a tour around the campus. This is cost effective for the schools too. The training centres are also interested in publicising their courses. They want to recruit students in the future.
When you mention training centres, they can include Universities, Polytechnics, Community Colleges, Vocational Colleges, Government Training centres and private training centres.
Such field trips can encourage students to attend classes. At the same time, students can learn about various skills. They can learn about projects which are on display. This can motivate students to consider blue colour jobs as another option.
Visit to work places
Field trips can also be organised to Police stations, hotels, hospitals, banks, government departments, army camps, etc.
Students can learn about what people in various work environments do daily.
Many would not have stepped into a five-star hotel. Let them learn about careers in the hospitality industry.
This will give them a hands on experience. When they visit police stations or army camps, they can learn about what uniformed people do daily. What equipment they work with and where they work.
While visiting they can also be taught some simple skills such as working in a restaurant, hospital or army camp.
ADVERTISEMENT
Invite skill based people to come to school
There are many retired people and people who are still in service.
They may have various skills such as making handicrafts, growing flowers, making cakes, tailoring, grooming, drawing, painting, etc. They can come and demonstrate their skills to students.
When students see and do some of these activities hands-on, they will appreciate those skills. If they take an interest in those skills, they may want to pursue a course when they grow up. These students are never going to be exposed to these skills on their own. Their parents may not have the time to teach them. The best place is to introduce learning about skills in school.
Talent shows
The best time to organise concerts, talent shows, competitions, food fair and jumble sale is when students are free.
If they have no exams to worry about, organise activities for them.
Teach them the skills of organising on their own. Let them plan and execute on their own. Students who have creative talents can take part in the shows and win prizes. Students who take part in food fair can learn how to cook various dishes.
They can sell their food and donate to the school. Along the way, students learn about business skills too. Other than demonstrating their skills they also learn to work with others.
They have to give and take while organising an event. Above all they learn team building.
Dollars and cents
Yes when organising activities for students, the teachers and counsellors have to spend a lot of time and energy.
Not all would want to sacrifice their precious time. But, it is a culture you are building in your school. If the activities are successful, the students will no doubt appreciate the teachers and what they do for them.
ADVERTISEMENT
As for money matters, the teachers need to work with universities, training centres, colleges, hotels and various other organisations to absorb the cost.
If you don’t try you are not going to know. There are many training centres which will come forward to assist you.
You can also tap the Labor Office, Human Resource Departments, Multi-National companies, etc. You can also try your local Aduns, Politicians for assistance. Last but not least, you can talk to your PIBG for financial assistance.
Career Tips
If students know that they are going to do exciting things in the school, they will definitely not miss school. In fact they will look forward to come to school.
Give it a try. If you are a teacher in the primary schools and if you have tried some new activities, drop me line. We can share your experience with other teachers.