Representative image showing students.
Credit: iStock Photo
New Delhi: A UN-sponsored study says only 10.4% of students in India receive professional guidance in higher classes to make informed career choices.
The study, which explores the career aspirations of students from Classes 9 to 12 across India, highlights gaps in information, counselling, and decision-making.
It covered 21,239 students across 14 districts in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
The study shows that despite better access, 41% of private school students remain unsure about course selection, in comparison to 35% in government schools.
Additionally, only 22% of students have a backup career plan, which includes 24% students from private schools and 20% from government ones.
Most students lack essential planning data, and only 10% know course costs, and 38% are unsure of their target education level. The study shows that 81% face barriers to career decisions — from limited information and self-awareness to peer or family pressure and future concerns — with challenges affecting over two-thirds of both school types.
Himanshu Gupta, secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said that career plays a vital role in shaping a child’s future, and the process of career planning must begin early.
“To address the guidance gap, CBSE is developing qualification standards and training modules to prepare certified career counsellors,” he said.
These counsellors will guide students in making informed choices aligned with their interests and skills, he added.