FINDING CAREERS FOR YOUTHS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 12

FINDING CAREERS FOR YOUTHS

OUTLINE OF GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS OFFICERS TO BE APPOINTED IN FOUR CENTRES (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 6. The plans adopted by the Government for the guidance of young people into vocations for which they show inclination and are best equipped, were explained by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) this evening. He said that careers masters had been appointed in several schools, as well as vocational guidance officers for boys and for girls in the four main centres. “Closely interwoven with this work is the research necessary to ensure the greatest practicable balance between supply and demand, and the task of locating the vacancy most nearly related to each child’s apparent suitability,” said Mr Armstrong. “While the organisation and execution of the study of vocational aptitudes, qualities, and attainments of pupils is a matter essentially for officers of the Education Department, the Labour Department’s operations include the locating of employment and industrial research. It was considered that the efforts of both departments in different fields should be combined to establish the most effective plan. The Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) recently convened a conference of vocational guidance officers and representatives of the Labour Department. As a result of two (lays careful deliberation and full discussion of all difficulties, the conference reported that there seemed no reason why the best results could not be obtained from a plan submitted. “Under the plan which has been adopted, youth centres will be established at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington (at Dunedin special arrangements have been made*) and here, vocational guidance officers for boys and for girls, and a secretary (the latter an officer of the Labour Department), located in each centre, will deal with boys of up to 18 years, and girls up to 21, and also with young men above 18 years of age who either have not previously been employed (other than during vacations) or who desire to pursue an educational career. “Full particulars of each child leaving the schools within the district will be forwarded to the vocational guidance officers, who will indicate the class of occupation in which each child will be able to yield the best service. It will then become the task of the secretary (or in the case of girls, the employment officer for girls) to locate and introduce a candidate to a specific position. ‘Follow up’ visits will be made to ensure that each youth placed is giving satisfactory service and receiving reasonable treatment, to observe progress and generally to check up on the accuracy of the earlier occupational determination. “The importance of consultation with parents is fully realised, Mr Fraser stated that he hoped parents would visit the youth centres when established and consult vocational guidance officers and secretaries about their children’s future,” added the Minister.