Every educator looks forward to the day their students graduate and move onward to productive and successful lives as adults. It is hoped that they take everything they have learned throughout their primary and secondary education and put it to good use in a way that makes the school proud of them. Although in many ways student’s education prepares them to obtain a decent job and handle many of the difficulties that life will throw their way, we always wonder if there is more we can do to help them navigate the transition.
With the advancing changes in the realm of Education, the priority today is no longer limited to just academic success of students, instead it goes way beyond to ensure that students are ready to face the challenges of the life outside the school gates. The schools today know and acknowledge the fact that there is fierce competition among students in all streams, thus all schools today want to empower their students to perform to the best of their ability and this means training them beyond just textbooks.
Thus 5 ways in which schools can prepare their students to live up to their challenges after school are:
Conduct regular Soft Skills sessions – One of the ways to ensure the all-round development of the students is to conduct regular sessions on a weekly basis for the students. These sessions may include topics like Presentation skills, Time Management, Team Work etc. These skills become of utmost importance once the students leave school and enter the professional world. They are now expected to conduct themselves with confidence and discipline.
Involving them in Team Activities beyond classroom – Activity based learning has always been recommended by experts. Activities involve the students practically and they get to learn things not just by listening to the teachers but doing it themselves. Thus it helps to boost their confidence and allows them to learn to work independently. Independent working and operating is very important for a successful career thus schools must ensure that students learn how to work independently.
Arranging for Counsellors – With increasing competition comes increased stress, students feel burdened and many at times need advice on how to further cope up with pressure to do well in their exams. Today school counsellors are vital members of the education team. They help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, ensuring today\’s students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.
Experiential education programs – Right from outdoor learning to travel programs students often discover their talents and interests through targeted activities and trips. An example of experiential learning program is the school educational trips, for example trips to plateaus and hills as a technique to understand geography better.
Career Counselling – Deciding the career to follow for higher studies is one of the most crucial decisions to be taken by a student. This is the one aspect that paves the way for the students for their life ahead. They need to be well informed about all the choices they make and all the opportunities they miss. Thus Career Counselling is no longer a luxury that schools provide but it is a need that they must fulfil.
The above mentioned programs and ways ensure that the student is not just someone who knows his/her textbook but is an individual who is well informed and well-groomed to be a successful person in life.