Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 21 : Programmes for Youth - Youth counseling

Vocational guidance

In the present context of heavy unemployment, under· employment and changing economy, vocational guidance to the youth is very necessary. With the development of science and industry, many new vocations have found place in our economic system, which are not known to the parents, with the result that there has been growing tendency to go in for white-collar jobs, although some of the manual jobs are more remunerative. Vocational guidance will, therefore, play very important part in tackling this problem.

A counsellor has to take into consideration the following factors in providing services to the youth

1. Age of the youth.
2. Employment age of the country as accepted by the Government.
3. Personality characteristics.
4. Family occupation of the youth.
5. Economic status of the family.
6. Aptitude of the young man for a certain vocation.
7. Educational background and/or any practical experience
8. New trends in the trade or vocation under consideration of the youth.
9. Capacity of the family to finance higher training or education.
10. Social status attached to the trade.

A vocational Guidance Bureau should have the services of trained vocational guides who have a complete knowledge and documentary information on various aspects of vocations. Information on the requirements of age, qualification, educational background etc. should be available with the Bureau. Arrangements should be made to publish and collect pamphlets giving information on various trades, vocations and crafts. Vocational guidance service should be available in the High School for both boys and girls.