A Quarter of Teenagers are Clueless about Careers Advice
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September 20, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Survey reveals that over a quarter of young people doing BTecs, GNVQ’s and apprenticeships do not receive any careers advice.
A recent survey has revealed that 28% of 15-19 year olds doing vocational course haven’t received any careers advice.
The poll of 1,620 youngsters, taken on behalf of the vocational exam board, City and Guilds, has shown that 28% of 15-19-year-olds doing BTecs, GNVQs and apprenticeships hadn’t received any careers advice, in comparison with 22% of those doing A-levels and university courses.
A spokesperson for Careers Wales told The Fresh Outlook about the importance of careers advice for young people today. “With today’s economic challenges career planning becomes more important than ever and our message to individuals is to access the services available to them to ensure they make the most of their potential and keep learning throughout life so that they continue to develop the skills and qualifications employers are looking for,” she said.
The survey also showed that only 30% of teenagers would ask their parents for careers advice if they only had GCSE-level qualifications, compared to 45% of those with degrees.
A spokesman for the Department of Education (DfE) said: “Young people need good quality careers advice – but the sad fact is that too much currently is poor quality and patchy. That’s why we are giving schools responsibility for providing independent, impartial careers advice. Schools know their students best and they are the ones best placed to decide what provision is right.”
The government is planning to launch a new National Careers Service next year; however, it will not provide the service of face-to-face guidance for those under the age of 19, the responsibility of which would be given to schools as part of a legal duty to their pupils.
Head of the City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development, Nick Grist, commented on the government’s plans: “It’s not enough to hope that a remote telephone operator or website will be able to give them the personalised support they need, or that hard-pressed head teachers will be able to find space in their budgets for top-quality, face-to-face guidance services.”
The DfE explained about improvements to careers counselling in the future: “Local authorities retain their legal duty for supporting teenagers’ education or training – backed by the £4.5 billion Early Intervention Grant over the next two years. It is rightly down to them to target services at those who need most support – without Whitehall tying their hands.
“We expect them to be working with schools, community and voluntary groups to design high quality provision. They know local people best and are elected by and accountable to their communities - it is right they front up for the decisions they take.”
The launch of the National Careers Service is scheduled for April 2012.
By Laura Beard
[Image courtesy of lynnefeatherstone]
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