Career decision, not a child's play

Recently a city school decided to make career choices for its students in Std IV or as young as nine years, to offer personalised curriculum. DNA asks parents and experts if such decisions should be made on behalf of the children.

Expert view
Let children experiment in formative years
An aptitude test is just a tool to identify a child’s inclination towards a particular field. While there is no harm in exploring a child’s inclination one should not forget that during the developmental period (0 to 18 years) a child’s abilities and interests can fluctuate. Hence, the decision-making for career shouldn’t be at such an early age.

Also, it’s important that parents and teachers are involved. I am sure the school in question would have taken these facts into consideration and may have introduced this practice to make the curriculum more relevant for the child keeping his  future prospects in mind. Finally, let us not forget that as parents the ultimate responsibility of the child’s future rests on them. Talents and interests of growing children should be nurtured and further developed without limiting their horizons.  It is important that a child gets to experiment with various alternatives in the formative years so that he can make an informed choice later in life. The onus of giving them that exposure lies with the school and parents too.
—Archana Rodrigues, principal, St Joseph’s High School

Early aptitude tests limit the horizon 
Children as young as 12-13 years of age should travel, explore and meet people. They need to gather information about their surroundings. One can’t decide career at a very early age as the cognitive and emotional development happens till a certain age. So only after a child enters standard VIII  can he/she take a career guidance test.

Also the tests tend to bias their views towards the options kids have. It’s best not to decide or zero down on what career one wants to pursue. If someone has a penchant for singing, they might not necessarily realise it at an early age.  If the tests are taken early parents as well as children tend to have a narrow minded view to the options available.  

I support these tests, but at the same time, one has to know that they act just guidance and a framework from what the person can decide. Also there is one hitch, after the aptitude tests parents might start molding and pressurising their kids rather than letting the children take the final decision. The parents then tend to have a pragmatic approach towards their kids career.
—Seema Hingorrany, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist

Many options are available today
My daughter who is in standard X isn’t totally sure about what career she wants to pursue. Then how can a child in Std IV decide his or her career? Today there is a plethora of options available which even children themselves are not aware of. And hence it’s important that we take help from counsellors and experts for the same. The child needs to be mature to realise what they want to pursue rather than go haywire later. Parents may influence the career choice but not many impose their preference on children. This is because once kids complete their Std X, they have a fair idea what they want to do. I disagree with the counselling at such a young age.
—Deven M, finance manager

Let one decide his or her calling
I think many schools encourage career-based aptitude tests for students today. Also many parents are increasingly getting their children to enrol for a host of activities and courses because they want their children to be good at not only in academics but also other activities. However, it’s best to let the child decide his or her area of interest rather than enforcing anything. At the same time, there is a need to visit counsellors and take guidance from teachers because today a host of career options is available which even we as parents might not be aware of. Aptitude tests after Std XI seems reasonable as by then children have a fair idea about their aim and ambition.    
—Umesh Patil, tax analyst

18 seems a fair age to decide
It’s true that today children from an early age get a lot of exposure due to media. And most of them have an aspiration from a young age itself. Having said that, I don’t think a child as young as nine or 10 years of age is capable of deciding what he wants to be in the future. Even when one finishes schools and has to decide which stream to take, many of them are confused and need guidance. Personalised curriculum is not good as it limits a child’s horizons at early stage itself. According to me, 18 years of age is the correct age for an adolescent to take an aptitude test for deciding his career. Parents do play a huge role in guiding a child.
—Jumana Dalal, entrepreneur

Peers play a role in one’s decision
When a child enters his teens, he comes more aware of the surrounding. So, the ideal age for a child to decide what subjects or stream he wants should be when he is 15 or 16 years old. We as parents are influential in a child’s decisions but we are not the only influencers. There is media, internet, friends who play a great deal in a youngster’s life. Today’s generation is smart and has all the sources to get information to figure out what’s good for them or not. Once a student finishes his standard X examinations, he becomes more focused about his career. With more and more professional courses available, one has a lot of options to choose from.
—Kalpika Agrawal, homemaker

Parents too play a crucial role
I believe a child would be in a position to decide his career by the time he passes out of the standard X.  But one might be able to judgment accurately what he wants to do in life when he has gone through a year or two in college. The experience and exposure one receives there as well as interaction with different people from varied walks of life helps them in deciding their future. Parents do play a role but I think it’s the child who should be allowed to decide about what he wants in life. Although, it’s easier said than done as most parents feel that they know what is best for their child. And sometimes end up putting their aspiration on them.
—Nikita Crasta, senior consultant