By Ajay Mahajan
As an outreach professional by profession and a counselor by heart, my interactions with students and teachers are among the most rewarding experiences I could ask for. Over the past years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting over 100 schools across Punjab, engaging with dedicated educators and curious young minds. These visits have revealed a deep-rooted challenge – while the National Education Policy (NEP) holds immense potential for transforming education, the gap between policy and implementation is significant, especially in the realm of career counseling.
In these schools, I’ve seen the hope in students' eyes when they realize their aspirations, but I’ve also witnessed the frustration that comes from a lack of proper guidance. It’s a situation that demands attention. Here are some key observations and challenges I’ve encountered, along with actionable solutions that I believe can make a meaningful difference:
Key Challenges & Solutions:
Holistic Development
Challenge: Schools tend to prioritize academic achievements over life skills and career guidance.
Solution: Incorporating workshops on critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving within the curriculum can help create well-rounded individuals.
Early Exposure
Challenge: Career counseling begins too late, typically in high school.
Solution: Introducing career exploration in middle school through career fairs and interactive sessions with professionals can inspire students early on.
Trained Career Counselors
Challenge: A lack of skilled, dedicated career counselors hampers personalized guidance.
Solution: Schools need to invest in full-time, trained counselors and collaborate with institutions to upskill existing staff.
Personalized Counseling
Challenge: Generic advice fails to address individual student strengths and interests.
Solution: Personalized assessments and one-on-one counseling can better align career guidance with each student’s unique aspirations.
Integration with Curriculum
Challenge: Career guidance is often treated as an extracurricular activity.
Solution: By integrating career-oriented projects and industry expert lectures into the core curriculum, career counseling becomes part of the everyday learning experience.
Awareness of Emerging Careers
Challenge: Many students lack awareness of new-age careers like AI, data science, and more.
Solution: Regular workshops and sessions with experts from these fields can help students understand and pursue modern career paths.
Collaborations
Challenge: Limited partnerships with universities and industries hinder real-world insights.
Solution: Schools should actively foster collaborations with local universities and industries to offer internships, mentorships, and exposure to practical career experiences.
Focus on Indian Higher Education
Challenge: A strong preference for studying abroad overshadows quality education in India.
Solution: Highlighting the success stories of local graduates and showcasing the value of Indian undergraduate programs can help shift this perception.
In my heart, I believe that by addressing these challenges with targeted solutions, we can bring the NEP’s vision to life in schools across Punjab. We have the power to guide our students toward fulfilling futures, equipped with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Together, we can bridge the gap between policy and practice and create a brighter future for the next generation.
Ajay Mahajan
Assistant Director Outreach and admissions
BML Munjal University