Creating career opportunities starts at school
As high school students return to class in a few days for their final year and others move on to university, it is hard not to notice that among all the hullabaloo about teachers’ demands and education reform, these youngsters have once again been ignored.
State schools are lacking career advisors or counsellors who will guide these teenagers towards a productive academic and ultimate career path.
Instead, teachers unions moan about ways to make their members’ lives more comfortable, such as less work/more pay, an easier workload when it comes to checking exam papers, sending off ‘troublemakers’ to isolation rooms, and the general attitude that private school students are of a lesser God and have no place in state universities.
Even the pass-mark for studies in, say, the teaching profession, have been lowered, dumbed-down even, simply because there is a misconception that we need more teachers (and secure jobs), regardless of what is taught in schools and universities.
The only advice given to students who are preparing for their final ‘A’-levels or Pancyprian exams, is which university to choose and how best to pass to ensure placement.
No discussion of what is best for the student, what the future of the economy needs, which are the upcoming career trends, at home and abroad.
Teachers argue this is the education ministry’s mission, while the government refers the issue back to teachers, saying they have a clearer picture of their student’s results and capabilities, hence they are better placed to give advice.
Of course, some parents believe they know what’s best for their children and will not accept guidance from anyone, especially if the advice offered is outside the boundaries of traditional career choices.
Then again, there are a few teachers who truly love their work and wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of the students they have nurtured and shaped over the years, possibly seeing each youngster’s strengths and pushing them in the right direction.
Banking in Cyprus no longer provides a primary career choice, the civil service cannot guarantee jobs for life, and the white-collar sector of lawyers and accountants continues to churn out machine workers with rare opportunities for promotion.
The sectors with a promising future are the ones that continue to have a people-centric approach and run parallel with the growth rate of the island’s economy – shipping, energy, smart finance, niche tourism, eco-friendly services and even, believe it or not, farming and agriculture.
In other words, areas where Cypriot business excels, and the ‘Cyprus’ brand could and should stand out.
Some colleges and universities are already gearing towards this direction, but so far, they have been trying to fill the gaps in the labour market to lower unemployment and benefit from student-hiring subsidies, not creating new careers.
Industry and business must join forces with the education sector to determine where Cyprus needs to be a decade or two from now.
Only then can we expect the schools and universities to offer new courses that may even promise steady career choices for the future generations who are frustrated because their skill set doesn’t match their job description.