Insufficient data, premature decisions, disparities: four insights from a research on adolescent advisement
It's a hard truth that France's student guidance system is in a pickle, according to a study by OpinionWay for Edumapper.com. The report indicates that 18-24 year-olds feel they're forced to make life-altering decisions too early, with little support and unequal opportunities. Consequently, over half of them end up regretting their career paths.
So what's the deal? Well, France boasts over 30,000 higher education programs, but quantity doesn't always equal opportunity. Sébastien De Lafond, co-founder of Edumapper, notes that the plethora of choices doesn't always translate to options.
Mere days after the first Parcoursup results, the Defender of Rights also warned of a fragmented and unequal orientation system. So, what exactly is Parcoursup? It's an application process that helps students apply to higher education institutions in France.
Let's dive deeper into the findings of the study, co-authored by sociologist and political scientist Anne Muxel. Three-quarters of young people surveyed believe they're pressured to decide their career paths prematurely in their school curriculum. They're also 61% more likely to feel they have no room for mistakes and 63% more likely to believe that diplomas are the key to career success.
These feelings are no surprise to Anne Muxel, who explains that in France, "initial training" takes a leading role compared to other countries. Young people are often put on a narrow career path with few opportunities to change course. For example, they're frequently asked to choose between "scientific" and "literary" paths early on.
However, with 80% of the jobs in 2030 still unknown, it's increasingly difficult for young people to visualize their future careers. Adding to the uncertainty, 73% of those surveyed express fear for the future.
Half of the surveyed individuals admitted they lacked guidance to make their career aspirations a reality. Parental involvement is significant, with 73% of parents engaged in shaping their children's careers. However, support is often unequal, depending on the parents' educational level.
Moreover, 47% of 18-24 year-olds reported limited access to guidance during their college and high school years. And nearly one-third felt their career paths were imposed on them during that period.
"Young people must fight tooth and nail to navigate their way into a world they perceive as complicated," notes Anne Muxel.
Even so, Anne Muxel acknowledges that Generation Z exhibits a strong adaptability and resilience. Despite the pessimism towards society and the collective future, this generation displays a positive outlook about their personal futures.
Two-thirds of those surveyed believe that boys and girls do not have equal opportunities. Young women are seen as more anxious, distrustful, and pessimistic about their career paths and socio-professional integration compared to their male counterparts.
Additionally, half of the respondents believe that schools do little to reduce social inequalities. In response, they base their university choices mainly on practical and financial factors like the cost of studies (36%) and geographical proximity to their family homes (35%).
Regrettably, 56% of those surveyed expressed regret over their career choices due to insufficient guidance. However, they suggest potential solutions like better access to student and professional testimonials (31%) and more information on professional outcomes (29%). As Anne Muxel concludes, "providing them with the tools and support to find their way is also about making them informed citizens and hopefully a little more reassured."
The government should implement measures to improve guidance and education-and-self-development programs, fostering personal-growth and career-development opportunities for young people. Indeed, skills-training and equal access to guidance may help reduce the current 56% of regret over career choices among 18-24 year-olds in France.
Addressing the unequal opportunities and pressure faced by young people in France's education system, it is crucial to offer more resources for self-exploration and decision-making support. This could include better access to student and professional testimonials, as well as more information on professional outcomes, which are suggested solutions by the surveyed individuals.
