WQSB and Career Education

“When I grow up, I’m going to be….” How many times have you heard your child say this? Every child from a very early age is fascinated with the World of Work. Parents generally want to help their children in their career planning pursuits, however, you may ask yourself, when and how should I approach this and what things should I discuss. Parents have a crucial role in a child’s education, by being positive and providing support to their children. Young people need support and encouragement to help them build self-esteem, confidence and well being. In-turn this will help their child develop values, attitudes and opinions of how they are able to succeed and achieve their goals now and later on in life. These are very important elements of the Guidance Oriented Approach to Learning (GOAL) an initiative that has been implemented at the Western Quebec School Board to address ‘Personal and Career Planning’.

• What is the Guidance Oriented Approach (GOAL) to Learning all about
• The Five Main Elements of GOAL
• What will my Child be Taught
• Why does my Child need Career Education in Elementary School

What is the Guidance Oriented Approach to Learning all About?

The Quebec Education Program (QEP) 2001 addresses a number of issues that confront young people throughout their lives; one of the issues is ‘Personal and Career Planning’. The educational aim in Personal and Career Planning is to enable students to develop self knowledge, discover their own personal interests and undertake complete projects that develop their potential and help them integrate into society and the workplace at the end of their schooling. The QEP also states that: “Schools have a duty to make it possible for all students K-11 to achieve educational success and to facilitate their integration into society and the workplace at the end of their schooling, whatever paths they choose”.

A person’s career begins at the beginning of school. In the Western Quebec School Board all schools are integrating ‘The Guidance Oriented Approach to Learning’ (GOAL). The aim of this initiative is to provide support to schools so that teachers are able to guide students more effectively in developing their identities and helping them make informed subject choices while in school and career choices when they eventually leave High School.

“Support in academic and career planning is the responsibility of all personnel in the school system. It is a shared responsibility and not a private preserve or exclusive responsibility of any one group. Parents, school administrators, non-teaching professionals, teachers and peers may all provide this support to students”.

Ministere de l’Education, 2002

The GOAL initiative will be integrated starting from kindergarten to grade 11 in High School. Through this initiative elementary school students will explore and become more familiar with themselves, their interests, abilities, assets and values, and as they progress to junior high and High School they will explore a wide variety of occupations and the realities and responsibilities that they will have to face in life and the world of work.

GOAL is taught through an appreciation of five main elements:

• Developing self-confidence, responsibility and making the most of their abilities
• Developing strong relationships with others.
• Understanding and becoming informed citizens
• Developing skills of enquiry and communication.
• Developing skills of participation and responsible action

What will my Child be Taught?

Schools will look at different ideas and progressions to the GOAL program as a child gets older. From the time your child starts their education there will be opportunities to engage them in activities that relate to real life, the education process and career awareness up to grade 11 when they leave school. These opportunities are geared towards helping your child gain understanding, skills and knowledge to play an effective role in society.

Why Does my Child need Career Education in Elementary School?

At this early stage a teacher will not be asking them "So what do you want to be when you grow up?" However, as soon as children start school, they have begun the process of self awareness, they are going through the first stage of their working lives. In elementary schools through GOAL, students will become aware of their tastes, interests and strengths in many areas: colors, food, sports etc. At this stage in their life a child begins to form their self concept, and they start to become aware that they are different from other people, identifying with their parents and other role models, playing roles and imitating their idols. They test themselves in different activities (sports, school subjects, cultural activities etc) that reinforce or modify their self image. They build their value system and their personality through everyday experiences. Hence they must be provided with a learning environment that can help them form a positive self-image for later on. If they have a strong foundation the rest is easy.

If you wish to know more about the Guidance Oriented Approach to Learning and how you can help your child prepare to meet the challenges that lie ahead, or you would be interested in attending a short workshop, please contact Kelly Butler (Career Education Consultant) at kbutler@wqsb.qc.ca

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