• Dr Isaac Newman Arthur

Career Day has become one of the prominent events in schools in recent times and takes place even in nursery schools.

A Clinical Psychologist Dr. Isaac Newman Arthur has, however, advised educational institutions to review the age targeted for “Career day” cele­brations in schools.

The was originally aimed at creat­ing an opportunity for students to be exposed to careers available to them both locally and internationally on the job market to among others develop their interests.

Dr. Arthur in an interview with The Spectator recently opined that, though the intentions for career day may be good, educational institutions should reconsider it and make the needed changes.

He said this was to ensure that the children derived the full benefit of it, and also saved cost.

Currently, checks at various stores and dress making shops by this report­er revealed that it costs some par­ents and guardians between GH¢200 and GH¢500 or even more to get the various attires for their children and wards.

Dr. Arthur said the practice cur­rently was losing its relevance to the children as he mentioned that ideally, it should involve adolescents because “they are at the stage of cognitive development where they could understand and meaningfully discuss issues of their own lives and future goals or careers.

He said the adolescence stage was char­acterised by the development of their own world views, identity and indepen­dence and were able to think both logically and scientifical­ly, and beable to discuss issues with some de­gree of under­standing.

He explained that, at that age, they were most likely to understand the practice and actively participate to derive the full benefit of the pur­pose of that occasion.

The Clinical Psychologist said chil­dren below that age would only see it as fun thereby defeating the purpose of the exercise.

Parents could be saved the costs of organising such programmes.

In an interview with The Spectator, an Accountant, Mr. Patrick Amoah Sarfo said he had been to some schools to talk to some of the children during the event which he believed had made some of them well informed about his profession and that of other communi­ty workers who came.

He observed that, the ages of the children had to be seriously considered because some of them especially those in the nursery schools and even in some cases the lower primary did not appreciate the day as compared with those in the upper primary and junior high schools.

He suggested that schools should not make it compulsory for all students to dress in their future career attires because it put a lot of financial burden on parents and could even make some children develop inferiority complex if they were unable to dress as such.

Another parent, a Fashion Design­er, Ms Clementine Xorlali Tettey said apart from the excitement it brought to the children, she thought its current form did not make it important.

“ However if modified it will serve a good purpose” she said.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema