Guidance across the Life Span, the Irish perspective. Maria Faherty Thomas Geary Academia 2013
Definitions of Guidance Counselling in Irish Policy The Irish National Guidance Forum (2007, p.6) states that: Guidance facilitates people throughout their lives to manage their own educational, training, occupational, personal, social, and life choices so that they reach their potential and contribute to the development of a better society. Guidance in second-level schools refers to a range of learning experiences that assist students to develop self-management skills that will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. Guidance encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance (DES, Circular Letter No. PPT 12/05)
NGF Developmental Framework Outcome 0-6 years 6-12 years 12-16 years 16-18/19 years 18/19+ Emotional Emotional literacy, positive self-concept; self esteem; emotional intelligence Positive selfconcept; self esteem; emotional regulation, awareness, coping Improve selfawareness; positive self-concept; coping skills, self management Improve selfawareness; positive self-concept; coping skills; self management Increased autonomy, independence, responsibility, decision making; resilience, self awareness Social Self knowledge & awareness of others; empathy; interaction & interpersonal competence Group work; role in relation to others; moral thinking; interpersonal competence Improve social, personal & interpersonal development; teamwork Independence & autonomy; ability to respond to changes; prepare for transitions Social awareness; assertiveness; self actualisation Learning Curiosity; creativity; play; learning; decision-making skills; transition to school; independence Information processing & retention; problem solve; reflection; transition to school Understand learning styles; lifelong learning perspective; skills, competencies Develop analytical; critical thinking skills; problem solving; lifelong earning management Improve critical thinking, analysis; teamwork; reflection; lifelong learning; personal development Career Skills; talents; preferences; problem solving; work and life roles Skills; talents; preferences; work/life balance; work roles; gender stereotypes Skills; talents; preferences; decision making; subject choice; career planning Life/work skills; employment sourcing; information sourcing & planning Develop career management skills; decision making; transferable skills; life/work balance; new opportunities
Guidance across the life span Primary School Education (6yrs-12yrs) Post Primary Education (12yrs-18yrs) Further Education (18yrs+) Higher Education (18yrs+) Adult Guidance (18yrs+)
Primary School Education No curriculum provision for Guidance Counselling at this stage of a student s education Social Personal Health Education is a strand of the curriculum (ten themes) Transition from Primary Schools to Post Primary marks the first point of contact with a Guidance Counsellor i.e. entrance assessment and orientation programmes
Post Primary Education Statutory Requirement: a school shall use all its available resources to ensure that students have access to appropriate guidance to assist them in their educational and career choices (Education Act (1998) Section 9) Rationale: provision of guidance and counselling in second level schools is vital to enable each pupil to gain the maximum benefit from the education system (NDP, 2000-2006) Inspectorate Guidelines (2004): identifies minimum standards necessary to provide appropriate guidance for second-level students
Model of Guidance in Education Personal/Social Educational Vocational/Career
Integrated Model of Guidance Counselling Personal Counselling: concerned with wide range of personal and social issues inc. identity, roles and relationships which can impact on vocational and educational choices. Educational Counselling: involves educational options concerned with learning needs and interests and the possible matching of education activities with career goals. Vocational/Career Counselling: involves decisions about current and future job/career related choices
Eight functions of the School Guidance & Counselling Service 1. Counselling service 2. Developmental programmes 5. Preparation for working life 6. Referral services 3. Consultation service 7. Assessment services 4. Information service 8. Evaluation services
Further Education (FE) Provision Guidance in FE is aimed at students and adults aged over 18 attending programmes on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 1 6 Clients include early school leavers and adults who wish to further develop their skills. A new further education and training authority SOLAS (Seirbhísí Oideachais Leanunaigh agus Scileanna) brings change to the Further Education sector and will operate under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills
Guidance in Colleges of Further Education Provision is allocated in accordance with DES guidelines The Guidance focuses on educational, personal, social and career opportunities Guidance services may also be involved in the wider college activities such as open days / recruitment processes and programme development Guidance interventions include application to Higher Education, CV, Interview and job seeking skills, personal development programmes and one-to-one guidance counselling
Adult Education Provision Adults and those who have left school early can return to education in various ways by attending Community Education, Back to Education Initiative and Adult Literacy programmes The Guidance provision to these learners is provided by the Adult Educational Guidance Service (AEGS) and is based on their identified needs The (AEGS) provides personal, educational and vocational guidance which supports learners to make informed about course choice, certification, progression plans and recognition of prior learning.
Third Level Education Provision Career Information services available to students throughout their studies but particularly in final year Counselling service available throughout third level education Each student is assigned an Advisor (Full time faculty member) as the first point of contact, when seeking support and advice Some Institutes of Technology and Universities also provide targeted Life Skills and Study Skills Programmes
Professional organisations that support Guidance Counselling Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) Adult Education Guidance Association of Ireland (AEGAI) Association of Higher Education Career Services (AHECS) Irish Association of University College Counsellors (IAUCC) National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE)
Map of Policy Documents & Guidelines for Secondary School Guidance Practice Guidelines for the Practice of Guidance and Counselling in Schools (NCGE, 1996) Education Act (1998), Section 9 (DES, 1998) Planning the School Guidance Programme (NCGE, 2004) Guidance Provision in Second Level Schools, Circular Letter No. PPT 12/05 (DES, 2005) Guidelines for Second Level Schools on the Implications of Section 9 (c) of the Education Act 1998, relating to students access to appropriate guidance (DES Inspectorate, 2005)
Map of Policy Documents & Guidelines for Secondary School Guidance Practice Mc Coy, S. et al (2006) Guidance For All? Guidance Provision in Second Level Schools. Dublin: The Liffey Press. Post-Primary Curriculum Framework for Guidance in Post-primary Education (NCCA, 2007) [working documents] The Institute of Guidance Counsellor s Response to the 2007 NCCA Document (IGC, 2007) A Whole School Guidance and Counselling Service & Curriculum: Roles & Relationships; Policy Paper (IGC, 2008)
Map of Policy Documents & Guidelines Looking at Guidance: Teaching and Learning in Post-Primary Schools (DES Inspectorate, 2009) Hayes, C. & Morgan, M. (2011) Research on the Practice of Counselling by Guidance Counsellors in Post Primary Schools. National Centre for Guidance in Education. Available www.ncge.ie Department of Education& Skills (2012)Circular 0009/2012 Staffing Arrangements in Post-Primary Schools for 2012/13 School Year Framework for Considering Provision of Guidance in Post-Primary Schools in September (2012). ACCS, IVEA, NAPD Well-Being in Post Primary Schools (2013) DES/HSE/Department of Health Ireland. Available www.education.ie
Map of Policy Documents & Guidelines DES (2000) Learning for Life: White Paper on Adult Education. Dublin: Government Publications. McNamara, G. (1998) Guidance in Adult and Continuing Education. Dublin: National Centre for Guidance in Education.