Choosing the right career is not easy, especially in today’s world of immense competition and a whole range of varying options. It has become imperative nowadays for children to know and understand the different career options before them from an early age. Keeping in view that early preparation keeps the child one step ahead, a career counseling program named ‘Mera Bhavishya, Mera Nirnay’ has been started by SDM Dr Anand Sharma (IAS) in his subdivision Safidon in Jind District of Haryana. This program is specially designed to provide counseling to the children of all government schools of rural Haryana. In an interaction with Indian Masterminds, the officer shares the aim, strategies, and procedures to execute the program.
CAREER GUIDANCE PROGAM LAUNCHED
The programme was launched in August with an aim to provide career guidance to rural students of class 9 to 12. One nodal officer for each school was appointed for proper execution of the program. A booklet and designed flexes that include important information about the program were launched, too. Since its inception, SDM Dr Anand Sharma and his team have played a significant role in implementing this model in around 42 government schools of Safidon block.
THE PREPARATION AND TRAINING
The entire education system was affected badly by Covid 19 and the subsequent lockdowns. Only a few months back, schools started to reopen after a long gap, with the situation slowly starting to get back to normal. This program was started with the aim to create an academic environment that would keep students engaged and curious.
Dr Sharma informs that initially when the idea was being discussed, some of the teachers joined as volunteers. He elaborated: “Our officers, along with some career experts, trained them and then they were designated as nodal officers in their respective schools for our counseling program. A 40-page booklet was also designed by us, containing all the information of available career options and their respective exams, vocational courses, degree courses, details of colleges, sources of study, etc.”
Apart from this, attractive flexes containing career-related guidance in the form of flow charts, engaging graphics, can also be seen on the school walls. “Mera Bhavishya, Mera Nirnay is initiated keeping in mind a long-term vision. So, I want it to be continued even after my transfer to another place”, the officer said.
THE WEEKLY INTERACTION
Under this program, counseling sessions are organized every Friday and Saturday for students to interact with achievers from various fields. According to Dr. Sharma, “The future of India must have the right to opt for the right career path. This can be possible only when they see live examples in front of them. Even officers of IAS, IPS ranks are involved in these sessions. Whenever I go for a short interaction with students, it certainly stretches to 1 to 2 hours at least. It’s because they are so curious and have so many questions to ask.”
So far, the responses from both teachers and students have been encouraging. The active participation of government officials in these programs is acting as a confidence booster for them.
FUTURE PLANNING
The program is in its initial phase right now and has many possibilities for expansion and improvement. Many are of the view that counselling should not be limited to children only. It is important to educate and spread awareness among their parents, too, about the choices available for a better future of their children. So, with this view in mind, plans are afoot to organize parents counselling sessions, special sessions for girls, army camps, and mental health programs in the future.
