From choosing a major to find a job, "following the feeling", to building professional cognition starting from primary and secondary schools——
Vocational enlightenment education guides a broader path of life
Our reporter Chen Xi
Recently, the Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China issued the "Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of Modern Vocational Education", requesting to strengthen the penetration and integration of general education and vocational education in each school stage, implement vocational enlightenment education in ordinary primary and secondary schools, and cultivate the hobbies and occupations of mastering skills. The consciousness ability of career planning.
Primary and secondary schools are an important stage for students to understand themselves and explore the environment.
With the formation of self-awareness and the development of sociality, "career", the link between individuals and society, has gradually entered their field of vision.
Industry professionals believe that bringing vocational enlightenment education to this period will help students form correct vocational views and labor values, and make career choices based on their own interests and abilities; it will also help the vocational education system extend downwards for the purpose of training more advanced students. Quality skilled talents, skilled craftsmen, and great country craftsmen lay the foundation.
How is the implementation of vocational education in primary and secondary schools in various regions?
What are the goals of the different stages?
What resources can be mobilized in the future?
What activities are carried out?
In this regard, a reporter from the Workers’ Daily conducted an interview.
Lift the veil of career
Lack of a clear academic plan, not knowing how to choose arts and sciences, and being confused about applying for college entrance examination... In 2014, in order to break this situation, Beijing launched a pilot program of vocational enlightenment education in primary and secondary schools, leading students to a disenchanting journey in their careers.
As a twelve-year consistent school, the Affiliated Middle School of Beijing International Studies University is the first to explore a gradual vocational enlightenment education program.
"Primary school is at the stage of'career understanding'. Walk into the'Children's Career Experience Hall' to experience the occupational roles of police, courier, emergency doctor, etc., and to understand the diversity of occupations; junior high school mainly focuses on'career exploration' and participates in campus TV, Shah Career associations such as painting clubs and drama clubs explore the real career situation of different occupations through "walking into the enterprise", and explore the social division of labor in different occupations; high school enters the period of "career preparation", listening to industry celebrities and graduates talking about their professional life and walking into Well-known universities such as Peking University communicate with undergraduates who are yearning for their majors to form a preliminary career choice." Guo Li, vice president of the school, introduced.
In Hainan, the active participation of vocational colleges provides another way of thinking for vocational enlightenment education.
In recent years, according to the physical and mental characteristics of students of all ages, vocational and higher vocational schools in Haikou City have launched a series of exquisite experience activities for primary and secondary schools.
Biscuits, egg tarts, Malazhan, pork floss beaver... In the cooking experience class of Haikou Tourism Vocational School, watching flour, eggs, cream and other ingredients turn into beautiful pastries in the hands of children. Parents of Haikou Binhai No. 9 Primary School We kept taking pictures for souvenirs.
Humanoid robots, building block robots... After learning basic robot construction and programming courses in the Artificial Intelligence Science Museum of Hainan Vocational and Technical College, middle school students try to independently write programs for the robots and control the robots to complete corresponding tasks.
Deep integration with labor education is a major feature of Jiangsu's vocational enlightenment education.
By the playground of West China Experimental School, there is a labor practice base full of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants. Each class has a "happy small farm"; Yangzhou Yucai Experimental School leases land in the suburban ecological park to let students experience the joy of labor , I also appreciate the professionalism of agricultural labor.
Meet the future self
"I was impressed by a child. When I was in junior high school, the school invited alumni from the film and television industry to be a'career forum'. He developed an interest in drama since then, and later joined the drama club of the school. Under the professional guidance of the club coach, he further established After gaining a career direction, he later entered the Central Academy of Drama as he wished to study." When talking about the fruits of professional enlightenment education, Guo Li is as precious as every family.
Over the past 7 years of vocational enlightenment education, Guo Li’s biggest feeling is that students’ learning initiative is increasing.
"Through early career experience, they can understand common career forms and skill requirements, and understand how knowledge is applied to specific jobs, so as to more clearly understand the relationship between current studies and future careers, and realize the meaning and value of learning."
"Occupational enlightenment education at the primary and secondary level is of great significance to the healthy growth of students." Wei Jun, assistant professor and doctoral supervisor of the Institute of Education of Tsinghua University, analyzed that on the one hand, it is helpful for students to build professional awareness and discover their professional orientation and career. Potential, initially possess the awareness and ability of career planning, and make good reserves for career development.
On the other hand, it is conducive to cultivating a positive outlook on career choice and occupation.
"With a wealth of professional experience, when we talk about future employment, we are no longer limited to teachers, doctors, civil servants, etc." said Xiao Xie, a student at Xihu Experimental School in Haikou City. Some students in the class wanted to study archaeology, and some wanted Entering the food industry, there is also "want to learn a skill to become a senior technician."
"Incorporating vocational enlightenment education into basic education will help increase social recognition of vocational education and build a more complete modern vocational education system." Jin Zhifeng, deputy dean of the China Education Policy Research Institute of Beijing Normal University, said, promoting higher vocational education Quality development should not only focus on the effective connection from secondary vocational education to higher vocational education to undergraduate education, but also extend downwards and carry out vocational enlightenment education with a wider audience, making it a part of lifelong education for the whole people, and building a strong country. A strong country with high quality and a solid foundation for skilled China.
Rich ore that needs to be unearthed
Although some areas have made attempts, vocational education is still in its infancy in our country, lacking overall planning and systematic recognition, and has not yet formed a strong atmosphere for parents, schools and all parties in society to cooperate and build together.
"Life is education. Students will enter many professional places in their daily lives, such as shopping malls, hospitals, and post offices. Parents and teachers should encourage them to pay more attention to the working status of all walks of life. This is an enlightenment in itself." Wei Jun said.
"As the main body of vocational enlightenment education, primary and secondary schools have a lot to do." Wei Jun suggested that in addition to offering career planning courses, schools should also activate teaching content and infiltrate vocational knowledge in subject education.
For example, when the physics department teaches "optics", it can introduce occupations such as photographers, optometrists, and medical imaging engineers. When the biology department teaches "cross breeding", it can be linked to the agriculture and biotechnology industries.
In addition, family-school interaction should be strengthened, and parental resources should be used well.
"It is necessary to make use of the advantages of vocational colleges in terms of teachers and hardware, and set up common primary and secondary vocational education bases." Jin Zhifeng said that vocational colleges can provide primary and secondary schools with training facilities and experiential vocational education courses. Cooperate in the development of relevant courses, and regularly carry out vocational lectures, open days and other activities to form a trend of mutual assistance and accommodation.
Jin Zhifeng also suggested that relevant government departments should give preference to funds and resources.
First, create a regional primary and secondary school career experience center, or cooperate with local public cultural centers, youth science centers, and commercial venues to tap the career experience resources among them.
For example, Beijing’s Mini World Youth Career Experience Hall and China Children’s Center Lao Niu Children’s Discovery Hall.
Second, make good use of location advantages.
For example, the tourism industry in Hainan and the financial industry in Shanghai have launched professional enlightenment education courses that are closely related to the economic and cultural development of the region.
Third, organize elementary and middle school students to visit related units on various professional festivals or memorial days.
Such as Teacher's Day, Nurse's Day, Physician's Day, Journalist's Day, Army Building Day, etc.