School students are making career decisions based on biased and outdated views of vocational and education training (VET) according to a Griffith University study.
Professor Stephen Billett from the School of Education and Professional Studies says if more isn’t done to improve the status of VET as a worthwhile post-school option, young people will continue chasing jobs they will never start.
“We have over 50% of young people who do not complete their apprenticeship which is a huge waste of time and effort. We also know that young women largely complete their hairdressing apprenticeships and then leave in droves.
“Education is longer and more ubiquitous. It’s for these reasons that young people need personalised, impartial career advice that helps them make the right decision.”
He said one of the study’s major findings was how influential career advisors elevated professional aspirations over VET, based on their own limited experiences and narrowly defined views.
School-age students ranked parents as the most influential source on post-school decision-making followed by school teachers.But when parents and teachers were surveyed, they both ranked the advice from teachers much lower in order of influence.
Professor Billett said teachers might not realise the impact that they have and assume decisions are being made with advice from guidance counsellors.
“Students spend very short periods with career guidance counsellors, but the things said all the time in classrooms reinforce societal views about aspirations. For instance, if you don’t do your math well, you’ll end up working in a factory.”
“Students spend very short periods with career guidance counsellors, but the things said all the time in classrooms reinforce societal views about aspirations. For instance, if you don’t do your math well, you’ll end up working in a factory.”
He said teachers interviewed often admitted to their limited knowledge of VET, but parents were often equally as ill-informed and less objective.
“It’s a very difficult situation, parents want to support their child to aspire to be the best. But the reality of pursuing some careers is very difficult and may not be suited to their capabilities and their interests.
“That’s why I think impartiality is important and exposing young people to a whole range of career options is important.”
Funded under the Queensland Government’s Education Horizon scheme, the study was recently published in the Journal of Vocational Education and Training.
A research bulletin summarising the project’s findings highlights four major areas of action to improve the status of VET, including specific strategies for schools, governments, VET institutions and the need for a public education campaign.
“Across Australia we need to enhance the status of jobs that VET serves and implement practical strategies to engage young people,” Professor Billett said.