Reflection Paper on School Counselor’s Skills
School Counselors’ Perception of Required Workplace Skills and Career Development Competencies John Barker Ph. D, Jamie Satcher, Ph. D The journal is about a research made to examine US counselors’ perception about the workplace skills and career development for the high school students who are going either work-bound or college bound. Researchers used a questionnaire with a participant of 152 high school counselors nationwide. It was defined from the study that work-bound students are those who are going to work right after high school while college-bound students are those who will pursue a degree after their secondary schooling.
Workplace skills and career development competencies were essential for the high school students because according to their department of education, the students need to have a clear understanding of their future occupations. Results of the research indicated that high school counselors view work- and college-bound students as more similar than different in their need for developing required workplace skills and competencies. Moreover, the acquisition of said skills and competencies were recognized to be vital for both group of students.
There is only a discrepancy when it comes to acquiring skills for according to the results, counselors believed that the work-bound students need to have more idea when it comes to skills so it will be easy for them to look for some jobs. The study emphasized on the great need of acquisition for high school students when it comes to work skills and career competencies as a part of their secondary school experience. Westerners have always been competitive when it comes to pursuing a career.
The study was done in December 2000 and it is great to find out that they are already studying about the needs of career development for their high school students. On the other hand here in the country, counselors were just starting off making career programs, not to mention that most schools in the Philippines only have career talks. It is not that I am being judgmental when it comes to counseling programs in the country. It so happened that I realized how behind the Philippine schools when it comes to these programs.
In fairness with some schools, they have a good guidance program particularly when it comes to placements. Problem here is that not most schools have a career program, so most students get into a course that they really do not like. An example of this is the boom in the nursing profession in our country. Several years ago, there was a big demand for nurses abroad. Almost every graduating secondary student was talking about it and how easy it will be for them to go to the other country for there is a greener grass there.
Almost half of the population of each secondary school took the course. After four years of being in the college and passing the board examinations, their next question is “What now? ” Since most of the students took the same course, the demand decreased already and most of them ended up being jobless. I always look back on these days and I feel bad every time I think of it. I wished that there is someone who could have guided these people when they were choosing the course.
Most of the nursing graduates that I know keep on saying that they regret the course they took and that they could have chosen another one. The Commission on Higher Education should really do something about it. On the lighter side of this issue, it is great news that schools are now starting to develop career guidance programs. These programs are even starting as early as pre-school. The National Career Assessment Examination is a great help in identifying their future career. A follow-up form the counselors is a bigger help in shaping their future goals.
