Lisa Tönus Project Manager and Web Developer Information Unit Swedish National Agency for Education IAEVG-conference Jyväskylä 2009

Presentation of the Swedish work with General guidelines and comments on career education and guidance (2009)

Background Two national evaluations 2005 and 2007.

Evaluation 2005 Description and evaluation of the career education and guidance in the public school system, how it is carried out and organized. Questionnaire and statistics Results: Reduced resources for guidance on compulsory school level. Only half of the schools had career counsellors with adequate education. No equality between schools. Weak governance from municipality level.

Evaluation 2007 The aim was to survey the quality of career education and guidance in compulsory schools. To get a deeper picture of the activities carried out in the schools. Results: A lack of goals for career education and guidance in the municipalities, centrally and at school level. No systematic follow up and evaluation of the activities. Distrubution of resources differ largely. Weak cooperation between the school and the working life. Weak cooperation with upper secondary schools. Career education and guidance is considered as importand – but a discussion and planning is lacking.

Conclusion There is a need for equivalence and higher quality in career education and guidance.

Actions made General guidelines (2009) Project Quality in career guidance ( ) Further development of national web page for support and information to students, parents and guidance practicioners (Utbildningsinfo.se) BRUK – a tool for school improvement, new part for career guidance (2008)

The general guidelines The general guidelines are based upon Curriculum for the Compulsory School System (1994) Curriculum for the Non-Compulsory School System (upper secondary school and adult education, 1994)

Guidelines are recommendations Guidelines indicate how one can or should act, and aim to influence development in a certain direction and promote uniform application of legislation. Guidelines should therefore be followed unless the municipality and school can show that education is conducted in another way that fulfils the demands stipulated by provisions. General guidelines are applicable to all public school organisations.

Content of the guidelines Introduction Governance and management Personnel and competence The school and working life Information and guidance

What is career education and guidance? Career education and guidance are provided in teaching, in various forms of guidance counselling and in giving information to pupils. It is the responsibility of all school personnel.

What is career guidance? Guidance is a question of supporting the student in efforts to investigate, identify and express their interests and possibilities, and thus arrive at individual and well-founded choices with regard to one's educational and vocational pathways. Career counsellors have specialist knowledge that plays a central role in career education and guidance.

The ways to success A clearer steering at all levels. That career education and guidance becomes the responsibility for the whole school. More research.

Benefits The students make sustainable choices and don´t drop out. Students become more motivated. Both the individual and the society benefit from this.

Project Quality in guidance ,9 million Euro from Government 50 compulsory schools participated Continuation courses for school staff Conferences

BRUK B Assessment R Reflection U Development K Quality A tool for self-assessment. The assessment is made with the help of indicators that have their starting point in the national steering documents.