Vera's Essay

Make Plans for Nigel ?

—— Career Advice for Children Aged 7-11

Career advice will be offered for children as young as 7-11 under a government scheme in UK to encourage them to broaden horizons and develop aspirations early in life. As a new research shows that three quarters of 11-year-olds want to go to university, but children from poorer background always fall short of their ambitions—suggesting better guidance may be needed. The scheme aims to challenge some of the "negative stereotyping" that leads some children from poorer backgrounds to believe that universities and certain careers are out of reach for them.(26 Oct. 2009, Education, BBC News) Furthermore, a survey which shows career guidance for teenagers has fallen over the past 12 years, as well as those who think career advice is useful reduced from 49% in 1997 to 25% in 2008. Career-related learning will be provided for children in order to raise awareness of what they are capable of . Thus, this essay will take consideration of the positive and negative effects of career advice scheme, from the angle of both the government and the children themselves, meaning help children to prepare for the future or set them up in early age.

Under the new scheme, it will be easier for children to choose their subjects when they start learning in secondary school. Ed Balls, School Secretary who draw up the plan, said "It is often too late for children start thinking about this at 14 when they are influenced from when they are seven, eight and nine." (Career advice for children at seven-year-old, 26 Oct. 2009, News, London Evening Standard) Relevant information will be offered to help children find out what areas they are interested in and make the right choice when they start secondary education.

The new scheme also opened various chances for children by using online career advice and guidance to broaden their mind and spot their talent. Older children can receive career advice and mentoring from business people, older peers and others on the Internet. Plus related information will be provided via Facebook, Youtube and through blogs. This can help children to learn more about what's their current situation, how many choices they have and to find out which field they are good at.

Since 75% of 11-year-olds want to go to university in the future, the scheme can help children to be more prepared for their future careers and nurture them to achieve the best they can. It seems like only children from privileged backgrounds or middle-class families would get more advice from parents and friends who know the university system than children from poorer backgrounds — who always fall short of their ambitions and believe that universities and certain jobs are out of reach. Therefore, career-related learning will be provided for children in certain areas to help them realize what they can achieve. Also there will be end-of-year assemblies which could be used to introduce children to career options, and links will be formed by universities with primaries to get pupils thinking about higher education from an early age. The career advice will be provided for children through to the age of 18, as well as every young person will be given access to a mentor who can guide them.

Despite these benefits of the scheme, there are also several negative factors which should be considered. Giving career advice to children aged 7-11 could stifle their imagination and narrow their options too early. "It is perfectly reasonable for children to think about what they might do in life, but what this absolutely must not do is predetermine what children might do before they even leave primary school", said Christine Blowers, general secretary of the NUT( National Union of Teachers) (Gaby Hinsliff and Anushka Asthana, The Observer, 25 Oct. 2009) Young children change their mind frequently and they are easily distracted. Receiving career guidance at this age may stop children from thinking by themselves and follow the guide given by mentors.

In addition, career advice won't be given just by mentors. Parents will be urge to get involved and may try to let children choose careers which they think are the best for their children. Recent research shows that 71% of parents believe that the most effective influence on their children's career is one or both parents. Only 34% believes career advisers and mentors have the biggest influence. Furthermore, all the parents have high expectation for their children, they want them to achieve things that they haven't been able to achieve when they were young.

In conclusion, it is important that children start to prepare for their future careers earlier. It helps young children find their passion and do their best to achieve their goals. The Department of Children, Schools and Families emphasize that the programme is not about helping children decide what job they want to do, but showing them what they can fulfil by using their potential. The scheme can also help disadvantaged and disabled children access to working experience and get a career adviser.

On the other hand, career advice from parents and mentors could narrow children's mind. A lot of parents want their children to be doctors, managers, lawyers etc. Because they think these are the golden jobs that can make their children successful and give them a comfortable life. So they make the decisions for their children and try to raise them that way. Though the career advice given by mentors must be professional, it makes children believe whatever the teacher suggest must be better than the decisions made by themselves. Then they may give up what they really like and end up with wasting their talent in other areas.


Bibliography:

Gaby Hinsliff and Anushka Asthana, Children as young as 10 to be given careers advice, Sunday, 25 Oct. 2009, The Observer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/25/primary-school-career-advice

Career advice for seven-year-olds, 26 Oct. 2009, News, London Evening Standard
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23760520-career-advice-for-seven-year-olds.do

Career advice for seven-year-olds, 26 Oct. 2009
http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8322627.stm

Parents and careers advice
http://abpi-careers.org.uk/giving-career-advice/parents-folder/parents-and-career-advice