A prevalent belief about young people, especially those in their final years of school, is the idea that they don’t listen to adults, encapsulated in the popular phrase: “They think they know it all.” However, evidence among those in their final years of schooling proves otherwise.
When it comes to their future, it is adults, particularly teachers and counselors in their schools, whom young people consider their main source of information. Moreover, according to the results of the Future Aspirations Program survey by Fundación Luksic, 80% of technical-professional fourth-year students in Chile state that in their school or high school, there are teachers or counselors who care about their educational future.
On May 11th, Student Day is celebrated, a date where we should emphasize the importance of school communities supporting high school students in making informed decisions in such a critical period as their final years of school. From deciding what to study, which career aligns best with their interests, which offer better employability, or even knowing what benefits exist to support further studies.
Many people still consider technical-professional secondary education as a final formative stage before entering the workforce. However, 7 out of 10 12th-grade technical-professional students wish to enter higher education the following year. And evidence shows that doing so not only helps them have better employability and future income prospects but also contributes to the development of their talents and improves life prospects, both for them and their families.
Through our Future Aspirations Program, this year we will accompany 64% of technical-professional high schools in Chile so they can guide and orient their students in the admission process to higher education. We believe that together we can respond to the trust that young people place in us and that we can provide them with the necessary tools to better guide their decision-making process.
Nancy Pizarro, Director of Education, Fundación Luksic.
