In a remarkable initiative aimed at shaping the future of young minds, MSc. Development Management students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in collaboration with the Ga-East Municipal Education Directorate’s Guidance and Counselling Unit, organized a transformative session for Junior High School (JHS) students at Atomic Hills Estate Demonstration 1&2 Basic School and Presby Model School.
The event held under the theme ‘Sustainable Career Guidance and Counselling: The Role of Stakeholders,’ left a lasting impact on both students and their families.
The KNUST students included; Gbekor Acquah Jonathan, Appiah Priscilla, Adu-Afful Rebecca , Aejays Doris Akweley Affram, Azuwieh Alimisiwen Angelica and Baiden Kofi.
The primary objective of the programme was to help students, teachers, and parents reflect on their interests, ambitions, abilities, and qualifications.
It sought to assist them in better understanding the educational system and the job market, guiding them to make informed decisions about their future careers.
Madam Sally Mbia-Coleman, the Guidance and Counselling Coordinator at Ga-East Municipal Education Directorate, emphasized the importance of choosing a career that aligns with one’s intellectual abilities.
According to Madam Mbia-Coleman, many students, without proper guidance, make career choices that do not match their natural strengths, which can negatively affect their future professional lives.
She stressed the significance of self-awareness and research in navigating career choices.
The event also featured insightful contributions from Madam Priscilla Akomenyi, the Guidance and Counselling Coordinator from Ga Central, who took parents through the process of identifying their children’s personality traits.
She urged parents to observe these traits and help guide their wards toward careers that match their God-given talents.
By understanding personality types, she explained, students can be better equipped to pursue careers that align with their natural skills and interests.
One of the key highlights of the day was an address by the Director of Education, Eric Sey who advised students to seek career guidance early on.
He stressed that proper career counseling would enable students to select courses that align with their future career aspirations, helping them avoid unnecessary expenditures and ensuring their educational choices are aligned with their long-term goals.
The programme reached its climax with an inspiring talent showcase from the students.
They displayed a variety of skills, from art to performance, demonstrating their diverse abilities.
The students, guided by their in-school counselors, also presented a life-like drawing of the two Headteachers at Atomic Hills Demonstration School, Saviour Yao Zikpli and Gertrude Akiligo, in recognition of their leadership and support for the initiative.
The event ended on a high note, with all stakeholders—teachers, students, parents, and local authorities—gathered to celebrate the success of the programme.
It was a clear reminder of the power of collaboration in shaping the future of our youth and equipping them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their careers.
The Career Guidance and Counselling programme was not just an event; it was a movement toward building a sustainable future for the next generation.
By bringing together various stakeholders, the event helped plant the seeds for a more informed, confident, and capable group of young individuals ready to step into their futures.