FUTURE CAREER

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 10

FUTURE CAREER

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

STATE PLACEMENT SCHEME

SPECIAL EFFORTS

The Government's scheme for the guidance of boys and girls into occupations for which they are best suited was outlined by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) last night. 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. It is proposed to establish youth centres also.

"In accordance, with the wish of the Government that the greatest number tof school children should enjoy the benefits of vocational guidance, careers masters have been appointed in a number of the larger schools," said Mr. Armstrong. "These officers will closely observe and record the aptitudes and progress of each child and endeavour to guide his or her inclination towards that, avenue of employment which will provide a career and for which the child's qualities seem best suited. This work will be generally directed and coordinated by vocational guidance officers for boys and girls who are located in, the four main centres.

"Closely .related to, and, in fact, interwoven with this work, is the research necessary to ensure the greatest practicable balance between supply and demand, industrial disturbances due to increasing mechanisation and rationalisation, etc., and the task of locating the actual vacancy most nearly related to each child's apparent suitability.

"Although the ' organisation and execution of 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 inadvisable that any duplication should occur, but rather that the efforts of both Departments in the different fields should be combined with a view to advancing the best interests of youths of both sexes. ' YOUTH CENTRES. "With a view to establishing the most effective plan, the Minister of Eductation (the Hon. P. Fraser) recently convened a conference of vocational guidance officers and representatives of the Labour Department, As the result of two days' careful deliberation and full discussion of all difficult ties, the conference reported that there seemed no reason why the best results could not be obtained from a plan submitted, and indicated its complete readiness harmoniously to1 co-operate with this objective in 'view. "Under the proposed plan which has been adopted 'Youth Centres' will be established at Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington (at Dunedin special arrangements have been made), and here the vocational guidance officers for boys and for girls and secretary (the latter an officer of the Labour Department), will be located, this facilitating close co-operation in this interwoven work. The centre will deal with boys of up to 18 years and girls up to 21 years, and also with those young men above 18 years of age who either have not previously been em-. ! ployed (other than during vacations), or who desire to pursue an educational career. Girls, will, of course, be interviewed by one of their own sex. "In actual operation full particulars of each child leaving schools within the district will be forwarded to the vocational guidance officers, who, after consideration of the data and of district employment possibilities, 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 office for girls) to locate and introduce the candidate to a specific position that occupational class) which offers reasonable working conditions, environment, remuneration, and prospect of future advancement.

" '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," concluded Mr. Armstrong. "It may be said that the importance of consultation with parents is fully realised because of the fact that, in many cases, a youth's inclination for a particular line of employment is due to an irrational admiration for certain occupations. Mr. Fraser has stated tha^ he hopes parents will visit the youth centres when established, and consult the vocational guidance officers and the secretaries in regard to their children's future."