January 30, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 26,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The federal education ministry is planning to devise a mechanism to impart career management skills to the students starting from 8th class to help them select the right career.

Federal Minister of Education Zobaida Jalal said this while speaking at a two-day conference on career management, organised by Margalla College for Women, F-7/4, here on Tuesday.

The education minister said career management of the students was of the vital importance, as in the country usually parents imposed their own choices on their children to select careers for them.

It is unfortunate that even in the 21st century, the students in Pakistan have to follow the instructions of their parents in selecting a career, she said. Referring to a couple of personal experiences, Ms Jalal said the instructions of the parents to their children in career selection had ruined many talented students.

“One of my known did his MBBS, but despite this he is not a practising doctor and still regrets the decision of his parents,” the minister said.

Zobaida said the right thought at the right time led to the right direction and it was a proven fact that career management could help students live a better life. In this regard, the parents need guidance, as most of them are subjective, sensitive and ambitious as a result of set unrealistic targets for their children, which are not compatible with their inborn abilities, she opined.

Though career management started after matriculation examination, it needed to be started from nursery classes, as students had various levels of intelligence and career management skills could help them select subjects of their choice, she argued.

Referring to the Western education systems, she said, they conducted aptitude tests at certain levels of schooling to determine the likes and dislikes of students, which helped them select a right career.

Unfortunately, in Pakistan during 70’s and 80’s medicine and engineering was prime choice of the parents for their children as potential careers. At present, she maintained, Information Technology (IT) was being given priority in terms of best career options in the country regardless of the fact whether or not a student had the aptitude.

However, it is heartening to note that the Federal Directorate of Education has taken the initiative to address the issues like career management by organising such conferences, she added.

“I hope this conference shall prove to be a trend-setter and seminars, symposia, workshops shall be convened as a regular feature of the system to highlight the importance of career managements.”

“If we have to transform Pakistan into a citadel of economic prosperity, then we would have to make a collective resolve to harness and pool the wealth, strength, means and minds of people,” she said.

The most invaluable asset and strength of the country is the people especially the youth, and the government has already taken concrete measures towards human resource development, she added.

Explaining the meaning of human resource development, she said, in simple words it meant optimum utilisation of the inborn capabilities, abilities and potential or human beings.

“Talent would waste and stagnate if not identified at appropriate age through system of guidance and counselling,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, FDE Director-General Brig Maqsoodul Hasan said the directorate with the pool of 60 to 70 PhDs had planned to successfully organise more such workshops on regular basis.