“Det handler om å ta det rette valget” En kvalitativ studie av elevers erfaringer med arbeidslivsfag og deres tanker rundt valg av videre utdanning

Based on a pilot project at a junior high school in Norway, this study focuses on the phenomenon “arbeidslivsfag” (“work life subject”) This is a subject students in Norway can choose to do instead of a second language or a linguistic specialization. The featured school has chosen to hire an external company which is responsible for parts of the teaching plan in this subject. The main focus of this study is to highlight the students’ experiences with “arbeidslivsfag” so far, and wether the subject has impacted their decisions regarding the choice of further education. This study has a qualitative approach, and uses semi-structured research interviews and participant observation to retrieve data. The selection of participants consists of one specific class at this particular school. During the observations, the entire class is represented in the sample, while half the students are informants in the interviews. The analytical tool used in this study is thematic analysis, and the theoretical perspective of the study is predominantly symbolic interactionism. In addition, the phenomenons “arbeidslivsfag” and “dropout” in school are introduced and discussed. The main findings of this study shows that the students are generally pleased with the implementation of “arbeidslivsfag” at their school. Furthermore, they experience the subject as a positive addition of practical work during their everyday school life. According to the students, the subject contributes to valuable knowledge of different educational pathways and professions. They also talk about “increased” awareness of their own emotions and choices of action, and about how they are perceived as individuals. Additionally, the students express their sense of increased self confidence, assertiveness, and sense of achievement. This study provides an input to the discussion of how early prevention measures in school can be experienced by the students. In this way, my findings may have implications for similar initiatives and student groups