Career guidance remains one of the most important tools schools can make good use of.  With it, students are assisted in exploring their potential career endeavours.

This form of counselling gives students an idea of what they need to succeed in life. It also ensures students take the right courses to prepare for future studies, careers and their life goals in general.

Willy Kirenga, a business owner says he had access to career guidance in high school. Based on his experience, he says career guidance should start with O-level students to help them understand themselves and make the right choices when choosing their combinations.

"A wrong combination can negatively impact someone’s career and work life. Choosing the wrong combinations is a leading factor in poor academic performance, bad behaviour, and a total waste of time in regards to what someone will actually become later in life,” he says.

Kirenga believes that high school career counselling helps in shaping a student into becoming the best version of their future self, and on another note, good counselling helps students stay away from bad influence and bad peers.

He says that if it was not for the career guidance he had, he would not be where he is now.

Aimable Murangwa, a head teacher at SOS Technical High School, says that choosing well a great combination in high school helps a student prepare well for their future.

"For high school students, what is important is to study what they like and feel passionate about, have access to a great job or right career after high school, and acquire technical skills that prepare them for their further studies,” says.

Access to opportunities 

Alice Uwineza, a former career guidance counsellor at SOS Technical High School says that career counselling plays a big role in a student’s life, as it opens a door of opportunities for them.

"Good counselling helps students learn about existing opportunities that are out there. Many opportunities are designed to develop, finance, and invest in high school students. So, good and informed counselling bridges this gap and helps students achieve their maximum potential,” she states.

Mary Umurungi a student at Stella Matutina, who is also part of a career guidance club at their school, says that every high school needs career guidance.

"To be honest, when I started high school, I was always anxious thinking about what will happen when I finish my studies and what I will do, because I had no idea of what career I wanted to choose. But receiving guidance from my club helped open my eyes to what opportunities the world has to offer, and how to choose the right ones for me. I think it is really important for high school students to receive guidance as it helps them in their journey towards the career world,” Umurungi says.

In an article ‘Importance of career counselling in schools, published by India Today, experts claim the pandemic to have played a role in disrupting the education area and career guidance activities. They also say that every student in every school needs career guidance.

"A student of a tribal school in Chhattisgarh needs it just as much as a student in an international school in New Delhi or Dubai. Their challenges and the skill sets they develop may be different, but their need is the same. Everyone wants to realise their dream careers, live a life filled with purpose, and enjoy what they do, and career counselling in schools as a support platform is second to none in helping students through this journey,” the article states.

Counselling students on choosing well what they want to study or what courses to follow, helps them know how best to choose their careers based on the skills they have gained, but also guiding them on what opportunities are out there for them is important.