The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Career counselling for Plus Two students begins

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Career counselling for Plus Two students begins

Staff Reporter

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Tech savvy: Minister for Education M.A. Baby at a videoconferencing session on career counselling for the vocational higher secondary students in the city on Tuesday. —

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly one lakh Plus Two students from 700 higher secondary and 164 vocational higher secondary schools across the State will take part in a six-month-long career counselling programme organised jointly by the State Institute of Educational Technology (SIET), IT@School project, Higher Secondary Education (HSE) and Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE).

The programme launched here on Tuesday promises to provide guidance to students, especially those hailing from rural areas, on how to equip themselves in meeting the challenges and requirements of the employment market.

Some of the proposed programmes include sessions on interview techniques, personality development, career planning, resume preparation, entrance coaching, selection skill development, communication skills and how to write an objective examination.

The programmes will be beamed to the students through ‘Edusat receive only terminals’ in their respective schools before schooling, during lunch breaks and after schooling. In addition to this, special programmes will also be beamed on public holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inaugurating the project, Minister for Education M.A. Baby said steps would be taken to provide information on higher education opportunities to students hailing from rural areas.

“There are a number of talented students who are studying in educational institutions in rural areas. With necessary guidance and encouragement they can attain international standards,” he said.

Implemented with the assistance of the Parent Teacher Association’s (PTA’s), career counselling began in 2006 as a two-month intensive course for students who completed Class XII. The programme was held at 600 centres across 14 districts.

“Empowering rural students in their career is the focus of the programme. Last year, the emphasis was on higher education alone. Free coaching was given to candidates from rural, coastal and tribal areas in preparing for medical and engineering entrance examinations,” said Babu Sebastian, director, SIET. “We are also exploring the possibility of incorporating talent search and civil services training as a part of the programme next year,” he said.

An online model examination for candidates preparing for engineering and medical entrance examinations will be held in February 2008 as a part of the programme.

The questions for the model examination, prepared by experts, will be posted on the web sites of general education, higher secondary education and IT@School.

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