A new report, exploring the career aspirations of Children in Northern Ireland, was launched at Ballysally Primary School, Coleraine.
The ‘Drawing the future’ study, carried out by Education and Employers charity, was made possible thanks to the ‘A Fair Start’ programme, with support of the Department of Education, the Education Authority, and the teachers and children who took part, reveals a lack of awareness many children have about the opportunities open to them. Their knowledge is unsurprisingly heavily based on what they see around them their family, people working in the local area, or on TV, the internet or increasingly on social media and is impacted by social and economic deprivation.
For the boys footballers, farmers, engineers, and builders were among the top jobs with the girls teachers, vets, hairdressers, and artists were among those chosen as a career.
Education Minister Paul Givan said: “High quality careers education and guidance is crucial in ensuring learners are aware of their future options and available pathways. It is not simply advising on job options, it is also about opening doors, expanding horizons and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their future.
“As Education Minister, I want to ensure that all young people, regardless of gender, location or background, have access to the support and information that they need to make confident, well-informed choices. Exposing children to more real-world examples in a way that is both exciting and embedded in everyday school life, as well as being age appropriate, can help transform the way they view certain professions and roles.”
Welcoming the report, Geoff Dunn MBE, Principal Ballysally Primary school said: “I am so grateful to the many volunteers who have attended today’s Primary Futures careers event.
“Our pupils have learned that their work in the classroom will impact their future, and with effort, determination, resilience and an ‘I can’ mindset they can follow their passions and dreams. This programme should be made available to all school across Northern Ireland as I feel it is often too late to inform pupils about career options in post-primary school.
“I believe it is vital to introduce primary school children to a plethora of relatable and yet creative employments and they should have the chance to meet a diverse range of people doing different jobs, regardless of their background or family connections.”
Mervyn Storey, Chairperson of the Education Authority said: “The Principal and staff of Ballysally Primary School are to be commended for being part of this programme. Giving our children at an early age this range of information could be life changing. It sows the seed of
what their future career could be and undoubtedly lead to an employment opportunity that they never thought was possible.”
As well as the report launch a special event took place which saw a wide range of people chatting to the primary aged children at Ballysally about their job in person.
Talking virtually with the children was Professor of Solar Physics, Louise Harra from the Davos Observatory in Switzerland. Professor Louise Harra, Director, Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium, Davos, Switzerland said: “I was delighted to have been asked to chat to the children today. I was born and grew in in Lurgan, County Armagh and I never got the chance to see a range of people with different careers coming to my school and showing me the opportunities that were open to me. That is why I am so keen to volunteer and will be encouraging other people to do so.”
