The role parents play in their child’s life has evolved over the years. Parents are now expected to play a more supportive and proactive role while also letting their kids find their own paths independently. It’s a delicate balancing act.
Most parents simply want their children to follow the same career path as theirs. They have spent decades building up a business or a professional reputation. Not only do they want their child to learn the ropes of the trade but they can also let him/her inherit their position when they are gone.
Although grooming their child to take their position isn’t necessarily a bad idea, it may not be the best option for everyone. Parents must align their financial goals with their child’s interests and aptitude. Naturally, children will feel a lot more empowered if they are let to pursue a career, they’re passionate about.
The choice of jobs and occupations available now is wider than even a few years ago. Children face an overload of choices when it comes to careers and this can be rather overwhelming. Parents can make this worse if they discourage their children from taking up offbeat professions. Meanwhile, some parents get too caught up with the financial aspects of a career, failing to understand their children’s true ambitions, which leads to getting into a curriculum that just isn’t working for the parent or the child. Therefore, it is important to listen to both sides, resolve conflicts between parents & students and get them on common ground.
Now let’s understand different boards available in India and their pros and cons and how as a counsellor you can help both the stakeholders.
What are the best Curriculums?
In India especially, there are different curriculum options:
- Indian
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
- International
- Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
International Baccalaureate (IB): The International Baccalaureate curriculum takes a student-centred approach to learning, allowing learners a level of independence designed to foster their creativity and help them learn more effectively. A typical English class in an International Baccalaureate program might include a comparison of two great novels, one ancient and another more contemporary. Through the comparison, students can learn more deeply and gain a better understanding of the language and its history. It is challenging and needs a student to think out of the box. Emphasis is on concept and research; it is recognised by the Indian government. As exams are taken in May and result comes out in July hence getting admission in a college is slightly difficult. Children prepare personal projects and portfolios. It gives holistic development to a student.
Cambridge Assessment International Education (IGCSE): Follows leaner Centric approach with a focus on research and problem-solving skills. The program is developed with the help of expert education at schools and universities. It helps students become confident responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged, it is flexible and has in-depth subject content. It also develops independent thinking, logical thinking, decision making as it has application knowledge. This curriculum emphasis on English.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): Follows a Concentric Curriculum where the Topic is taught are built on what was taught in the previous year. This board is handled by the Central government, it is recognized throughout the country and internationally and this board is accepted by all colleges and universities. This board conducts various competitive exams like NEET, IIT JEE etc. CBSE focuses on Math and Science.it is more theoretical and less practical knowledge. Emphasis is less on Language. It is best suited for people who frequently relocate.
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE): Follows a spinal curriculum where basic facts are taught first to the student and more details are introduced later, it is a complete and comprehensive curriculum and recognised around the world. Suited best for students and parents who are looking for careers in humanities and management. They have an edge over exams like TOFFLER and IELTS as their lot of emphasis on the English language. Students also develop a deeper understanding of concepts, life skills, analytical skills. It is difficult to score as the student has to face 13 subjects and there is less leniency in evaluation.
What Does a Parent Consider while Selecting the Curriculum?
- Academic Focus
- Subject Flexibility
- Overall Personality development of the child
- Social Skills
- Value systems
- Higher education – The base for a child’s education begins with the curriculum
- Parental involvement- the time required from the parent to support him/her for the curriculum understanding ie concept and project work.
- Willingness to spend- it’s a thin line between “You can spend and How much you want to spend”.
Recommended Read: Stream Selection After 10th: 9 Tips to Guide Students
How Can a Career Counsellor Help | Factors to consider while suggesting Curriculum
We all understand as we are also parent to our children, how difficult it is to take the right decision on choosing the right or I can say best-suited curriculum for the child. But know that we have Career Counsellor to help parent and the child choose the right board which takes care of parents need and child’s aspiration.
As a counsellor what are the factors to be considered while helping or suggesting parents to choosing the right curriculum for their child?
Child’s Learning Style: It’s important to identify child’s learning style so that you can help them improve their grades and make learning fun. A learning style is an individual’s approach to absorbing and processing information, which mostly enters the brain through sight (visual), hearing (auditory) and touch (kinaesthetic). The child probably uses all the styles, but if you observe closely, one style is exceptionally strong.
Teaching Style or Methodology: Curriculum development describes all the ways in which teaching or training organization plans and guides learning. This learning can take place in groups or with individual learners. It can take place inside or outside the classroom. It can take place in an institutional setting like a school, college, training centre, or in a village or a field. It is central to the teaching-learning process.
Parents Priorities: As mentioned earlier in the previous paragraph “What parents consider while choosing the curriculum” should be taken under consideration like a grading system, flexibility, geographical movements, Fee etc before suggesting the curriculum.
When to change the board?
Well, this depends upon various factors and the child’s and parent’s aspirations and needs, but the appropriate Grade to change the board is Grade 6 to 8. The child gets to settle and understand teaching patterns, assessment systems and overall understanding of the curriculum. Analyze all the aspects and accordingly guide them in making career decisions.
Which Psychometric test should be suggested?
- Learning style
- Multiple intelligence
- Ideal careers test
- Best fit curriculum
- Profile building/ProMap
These are some effective ways how you can take parents and children on the same ground. Follow these points and learn how to choose the right curriculum.
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Darshana Aradhye
Ms. Aradhye is a trained Global Career Counsellor who has over 15 years of experience in the field of education and counselling. She has worked with multiple schools and delivered various workshops. She is a skilled professional in Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Teachers Training, Management, and Strong Community & Social Services. She has worked with several well-known organizations from being a counsellor to educator to academic head to Head Mistress to Principal in reputed schools of Ahmedabad.
