Career teachers equipped to guide students
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Guadalcanal Provincial Government train high school teachers on career counseling
25 high school teachers from the Guadalcanal Province underwent a training of trainers (TOT) on Career Counseling from, 13-15 July 2016. The teachers were also provided with copies of My Guide to Employment – for young people in the pacific, for use with students and other target groups to conduct career counseling and/or training.
Funded and delivered by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with support from the Ministry of Education and Guadalcanal Education Authority, the workshop was opened by Honorable Alfred Lazaros Rima, the Minister of Education of the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
Honorable Rima said that he was very grateful for the ILO to deliver this important training that will improve the capacity of teachers to deliver this important service to the students. He further highlighted that his Ministry would continue to support such initiatives as it impacted on the youth employment situation in Solomon Islands.
“This is third such training in Solomon Islands, the first bring in Honiara and second in Auki in Malaita Province,” said Mr Bimlesh Raj of the ILO. Mr Raj also encouraged the Minister and Ministry officials present to include career counseling as part of the curriculum for students to continuously access.
“I found this training to be very practical and I am clear about how I can deliver on the knowledge I have gained and techniques demonstrated with students, out of school youths and other teachers”, said Ms Kylie Tovosia, a Careers Mistress from Kopiu Community High School.
An interactive and locally tailored approach was used in the training where participants were able to role play job interview scenarios, practice CV and letter writing, develop list of local institutions for referral of students, etc. In addition the four part guide provided participants with tips, templates and examples necessary to support young people looking for a job, preparing for a job, creating their own jobs and keeping a job.
The training was held at the Mbalasuna Bible College, which also has facilities to accommodate the teachers. This allowed Ms Amiteko Dao, a Home Economics teacher from Tamboko Community High School and a mother of a 6 months old baby to attend this training.
As her baby slept in a room close by looked after by a nanny, Ms Dao was able to participate in the training and breast feed her baby when required. “This training has allowed me to learn a new skill which will help me further in my career”, said Ms Dao.On the final day of the training, a participants drafted work plans on how they would implement what they had learnt back in their schools and communities. The target groups they identified were students, youths out of school and other teachers.