The Strategy and Innovations Director at the Ministry of Education (MoE), Mr. Aaron Twum Akwaboah, has passionately advised parents to stop making decisions for their children when it comes to their career.
Mr. Akwaboah asserted that parents “should make a conscious effort not to impose anything on their children.”
“One thing you should not do is put a box around them. Stop telling them what to do. Just stop!”
Mr. Akwaboah
The Director urged parents to listen to their wards regarding their career dreams and also note that they may change their minds at any point in time.
“I asked my little brother what he wants to do and he said he wants to be in the military. So we call him General now because that’s the highest. Now, we’ve already had the conversation. So number one, you the parent or guardian ask and the child will tell you.
“They may change their minds all the time and be ready to have them change. You know, in June, I’m a doctor. In august, I want to be a lawyer, I want to be engineer, I want to be this.”
Mr. Akwaboah
Expose Your Kids To People In High Positions
Mr. Akwaboah to a greater extent advised that parents and guardians expose their children to people in high positions and encouraged them to ask questions. This, he said, will enable them to gain more insight into their career options. “Expose them to as many creatives as possible. If you have friends and families that have high careers, expose them to many of them. If you have an uncle who is a bank manager, let the child meet him,” he averred.
“Ask them some things, interview professionals around your children. Tell your child, ‘Ok, here are three or four questions, ask that professional, when we meet him or her.”
“I would love that if I had a child and I brought them here, I would say to them; Go and ask about being a journalist, go ask him about being a radio presenter.”
Mr. Akwaboah
The MoE official also highlighted the place of research for both parent and children, saying “So, when you ask the questions, you engage with people doing that job and also, do online and digital research. There are so many ways to think about it.”
Mr. Akwaboah concluded by indicating that playtime could also help a parent identify a child’s career path. “Whenever you are engaging in fun activities with your child, ask them, would you like to do that? Or how do you think this is done? Because then you can find out their career.” he emphasized.
“For example, you are watching the Avengers film and you are watching the Hulk come out of the thing and you are like, ‘No! There’s no way that there can be a person who is green and weighs 800kg. How is that happening?’ And then you ask the question and you realise that there is someone who is a computer programmer who did it. Now, your child knows it exists.”
Mr Akwaboah
What many of the overambitious parents do not realize is that forcing a child to pursue a career of your own choice which he/she has no interest in can often result in failure and disappointment. The Career of a person plays a large role in his/her happiness. Parents should try to be a guide to the children and help him/her in weighing the pros and cons of various careers. It is noticed that when people do things which they like and enjoy, they excel in what they do, therefore, parent should allow thier wards choose a career which he/she wants, based on their interest, aptitude, intelligence and personality.
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