Students’ career choices follow traditional trend

A North Shore careers advisor says a lack of understanding of the ‘‘real world’’ contributes to the choices teenagers are making for when they leave school.

Fewer Kiwis are enrolling in tertiary study, but Glenfield College careers advisor Alastair Tod said the majority of students are still fairly traditional in their views of careers and tertiary education.

‘‘I feel that a lot of this is through their lack of exposure to what is out in the real world,’’ Tod said.

‘‘In our community there is quite a significant proportion of new New Zealanders who have a view that to get a good job you must get a university degree. Students are therefore under parental pressure to go to university. Whether the student is suited to tertiary study or not is another question.

‘‘Others make decisions on what they think is a ‘good job’ and also what is going to pay well.’’

Ministry of Education figures show 353,400 domestic students were enrolled in formal tertiary education in 2016.

There was a decline in enrolments from previous years of those aged 18 to 24 and 40 to 54 as well as those who identify as European and Pasifika.

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) national president Jonathan Gee said tertiary enrolments have reached the lowest point in more than a decade, and he attributes cost as a factor.

‘‘A number of students have opted to take gap years halfway through their studies, as they choose to earn rather than learn to keep up with the rising cost of living,’’ Gee said.

Of Glenfield College’s current crop of year 13 students, Tod said about 50 per cent are aiming for university with another 25 per cent heading for other forms of tertiary training.

Takapuna Grammar School

‘‘No course or experience is wasted’’

Takapuna Grammar School careers advisor Ginny Stainton

careers advisor Ginny Stainton said the majority of students at TGS go on to tertiary study at university.

‘‘However some students will decide to take a gap year, others will prefer to go straight into the work force to experiment with their options. All are good choices and no course or experience is wasted.’’

Construction, healthcare and tourism have been identified as top areas of employment for the future in Auckland, Stainton said.

MARTIN DE RUYTER University might not be the right fit for all students but family pressure remains when students are deciding their next step, an Auckland careers advisor says.