Apprenticeship: Changing The “Not For My Child” Attitudes Essay Samples

Parents are a child’s primary influence and motivator in making decisions related to education. With rising costs in education and limited jobs that are available to students upon graduation, parents are beginning to question the wisdom of a university education. The concept of apprenticeship in a vocational field is becoming more appealing.
In a study released by Edge Foundation and City and Guilds, the majority of parents thought that students who entered fields such as plumbing and auto mechanics were very employable 57 and 44 percent respectively), however only twelve percent of parents perceived a social sciences degree from university as employable. Despite these findings, the majority of parents do not encourage their children into vocational fields and apprenticeships. Unfortunately parental perception of success is education through the university route.
The stigma associated with vocational training and the perception that a career through university education need to be changed. Many students enter university and spend three years in a course of study they decide they don’t enjoy in the end. Parents are very knowledgeable about the qualifications required when embarking on an academic route but are not as knowledgeable about the requirements for a vocational plan.
A degree is not the golden ticket to opportunity it once was. The university experience is also not the best route for everyone. Both parents and students need to broaden their knowledge of career possibilities and alternate career paths that exist. The Skills Show is one way that parents and students can learn more about vocational routes to employability. Parents and student both need to investigate the opportunities and possibilities that are available to them. Students need to be honest with themselves when they consider their talents and interests and pursue a path that suits them best.

References

Hodges, Jan. “Apprenticeships: changing the “not for my child” attitudes. The Telegraph 11 November 2014. Retrieved from:
(http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/education/further-education/11221224/ Apprenticeships-
changing-the-not-for-my-child-attitudes.html)