HIGH SCHOOL CAREER EDUCATION: POLICY AND PRACTICE

A considerable amount of research in a number of different jurisdictions has shown student dissatisfaction with career counselling in secondary schools. This article explores policy and practice by reflecting on two counsellor interviews and 35 student responses to a questionnaire about career education in a single Ontario high school. Students noted a level of certainty about their postsecondary plans, and reported experiential learning being most helpful to career planning. However, demands on counsellors‟ time are seen as substantial and dissatisfaction with program provisions remains high. High student-counsellor ratios, overextended counsellor responsibilities and low student initiative suggest a need for different approaches to helping students plan for their postsecondary careers