Nearly one in two young people feels they are not adequately supported in their educational and career guidance. Furthermore, almost half express regret over their chosen path and wish they could have opted for a different one. This observation led to the creation of the Collectif Orientation, which aims to improve cooperation among various stakeholders in education and guidance to better support young people, regardless of their starting situation or future aspirations.
While educational institutions claim that guidance is a shared priority, regardless of the territory or type of structure, only 25% of them actually have the capacity to implement the full number of guidance hours planned for students, as noted by Collectif Orientation.
“ This should lead us to reflect more broadly on how to support them, how to help ensure that these guidance times are truly accessible? ”, explains Sébastien Gurung.
The approximately forty members of the Collectif work primarily in educational institutions, but also wherever they can meet and support young people, on topics such as self-censorship or career exploration. The goal is to create a real educational continuum by breaking down the barriers between education, training, and professional integration.
“ I believe that the school of the Republic is the dedicated place to fight against determinism and ensure that every young person who goes through our education system can envision their future with the same chances and motivation, or at least the same hope, of finding their place ”, insists Sébastien Gurung.
The stakes are even higher in a world that is changing faster than in the past. “ It is much more important today to develop the skills to navigate one’s path, as well as those of the 21st century, which will allow everyone to evolve, adapt, and bounce back throughout their lives and find the space in which they want to grow at any moment, rather than choosing a profession or path that may not have the same job dynamics between the time they start their training and when they seek to integrate ”.
Companies are also called upon, as they play a very important role in helping to discover professional environments and understand career paths.
“ Therefore, we believe that the issue of guidance requires the mobilization of society as a whole because it is a crucial challenge for each young person in their journey and in their own life. But it is also a societal issue. We believe that someone who has chosen their path and feels valued in their skills will be more fulfilled in their job and more effective in their tasks ”, concludes Sébastien Gurung.
