Empower children to make own academic choices: Counsellors

BENGALURU: A 17-year-old who secured a good NEET rank was recently at the office of Asha Sidd, a city-based counsellor, along with his doctor-parents. While the parents want him to take up a medical seat, the boy is keen on English literature.
“The couple runs a small clinic and wants the son to take it over from them. But the boy is keen on teaching. I have convinced them to visit some colleges for literature and then decide,” she said.
With admission season at its peak, career counsellors are witnessing a large number of parent-child conflicts over decisions on choosing streams. While counsellors agree that parents have become much more open to new-age courses, they still need validation for the choices.
“Times have changed and parents are willing to listen to children. They are ready to offer financial support too. However, they still need external validation for the choice. They meet an expert who they think can analyse whether the child is fit for the course,” said Sudha Bhogle, career counsellor.
“Children, with access to internet, know much more than parents about courses and colleges. They get information from their peers and social media. Parents have to understand how well-researched they are, sometimes much more than them, and respect their choices,” said Umashankar PS, additional chief secretary, department of higher education, addressing students and parents at the recently held education expo Mission Admission.
Counsellors stress children should be empowered to take decisions. “While a lot has changed, many parents still want their kids to go for the safe options of medicine and engineering, while children want to try new-age courses. Sometimes, both the parents have different ideas and the child is caught between the two. At other times, parents see some skillset in the child, but the child doesn’t want to pursue that,” said Asha.
“Parents should empower children to take decisions. Class 9 is a good time to do that. They should expose them to professionals from various fields, counsellors, etc. Internships are good ways of doing it,” she said.
Mahesh Gowda, consultant psychiatrist, Spandana Nursing Home, said with nuclear families, the burden on the child to meet parents’ expectations is more. “Several families now have a single child. Parents choose the colleges and courses they want children to select. Sometimes, there is discord between the child and parents, or between parents (and the child aligns with one). Most children have the capacity to make decisions alone after much research, but are not allowed to,” he said.
“Some of them drop out, change colleges or refuse to take up academic responsibilities. Parents have to be sensitive to kids’ choices,” he said.