Guidance and Career Education
For their educational, social, and career success in the twenty-first century, students will require effective work habits and the ability to make sound decisions, solve problems, plan effectively, work independently, communicate well, research, evaluate themselves realistically, and explore new educational and career opportunities. A carefully planned guidance and career education program, beginning in the elementary grades and continuing through secondary school, will help students acquire these skills.
The guidance and career education program plays a central role in secondary school by providing students with the tools they need for success in school, in the workplace, and in their daily lives.
In particular, the curriculum focuses on skill development that will help students better manage their time, resources, and dealings with other people to improve their opportunities for success both in school and in their future lives.
Courses in guidance and career education actively involve students in research, inquiry, problem-solving, and decision-making processes related to planning for post-secondary education, training or work.
The guidance and career education program is designed to recognize the diverse abilities, strengths, and aspirations of all students, providing them with knowledge and skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
The goals of the guidance and career education curriculum are to enable students to:
- understand concepts related to lifelong learning, interpersonal relationships, and career planning;
- develop learning skills, social skills, a sense of social responsibility, and the ability to formulate and pursue educational and career goals;
- apply this learning to their lives and work in the school and the community.
These goals are organized into three areas of knowledge and skills:
student development, interpersonal development and career development.
Key Features of the Program
Building on the good practices currently in place in many Ontario schools and classrooms, an effective guidance and career education program includes the following important key features:
– clearly stated competencies for students in Grades 1 to 6, Grades 7 and 8, and Grades 9 to 12
– a range of career exploration activities in the community
– completion of the compulsory half-credit Career Studies course as a secondary school graduation requirement
– preparation of an annual education plan for each student, beginning in Grade 7 and continuing to the end of secondary school
– individual assistance and short-term counselling
– a program advisory team
– a program-effectiveness survey, conducted every three years, with recommendations for revising the program