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Background
Our impressions of the world including our attitudes
to work are formed early in childhood. Children develop
ideas and beliefs about the working world from family,
peers and the media, which they act out and practice
through play. At present in the UK there is a growing
realisation of the need to include career-related learning
in the primary curriculum. It is anticipated that such
learning will aid children in managing their learning
and work, understand and develop themselves, and prepare
them for adult working life. Such learning it is believed
will build on children's natural curiosity and their
perceptions of work roles.
What
is Career-Related Learning?
Career-related
learning helps children to understand the world of work.
It equips them with the skills and ability to plan,
and to make and implement choices and decisions. It
also allows them to take responsibility for managing
their work as pupils and prepares them for the working
world by getting them to think about their present and
future roles as students, workers and citizens. Career-related
learning is not about bringing a traditional careers
education into the primary classroom on a formal basis
but rather about building on children's natural curiosity
and their existing perceptions of work roles on an informal
basis. It is complementary to the curriculum in that
children learn about the working world through subjects
such as history, geography and science. It is also a
way of helping children link learning to life and achieve
development in three main areas - self development,
career exploration, and careers management.
Rationale
Why is there a need for career-related learning in primary
schools?
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Children
may have developed unhealthy attitudes to work -
for instance girls shouldn't be engineers! |
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Children
are asked to make choices at primary level that
may affect their career choice in later life, for
example choosing subjects for second level. |
These
reasons highlight the need for career-related learning
in schools as children have the opportunity to re-examine
existing perceptions and make wiser decisions.
Benefits
There are many benefits for including career-related
learning in primary schools and these include:
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Linking
learning to the working world by making learning
and school subjects more relevant, thus enhancing
motivation and tackling social exclusion |
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Enhancing
children's personal development, career development
and career management thus allowing them to make
more informed decisions |
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Benefiting
society and the community in that children become
more aware of opportunities available to them, influencing
them to aim higher and complete their education |
Issues
A number of issues arise in developing career-related
learning in primary schools:
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How
the existing curriculum can act as a springboard
to promote and enhance such learning; |
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How
such learning integrates with the School Completion
Programme to combat social exclusion; |
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How
local industry and communities can support such
learning; |
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What
training, materials and equipment are required to
pilot such learning; |
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How
career-related learning in primary schools links
with similar learning in Junior Cycle in post-primary
schools. |
Information
Sources:
NICEC/ CRAC (2000) 'Exploring Career Related Learning
in Primary Schools' Cambridge: NICEC/CRAC
NICEC/ CRAC (1998) 'Career Related Learning in Primary
Schools' Cambridge: NICEC/CRAC
For
Further Information:
Primary schools and teachers interested in exploring
career-related learning should contact info@ncge.ie at
NCGE.
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