The Punjab government today approved setting up of 300 state-of-art fully equipped counselling clusters throughout the state and each state has been given responsibility to provide career counselling and guidance to the students of adjoining 10 to 13 schools.Presiding over a meeting of Career guidance and counselling cell here today, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema education Minister said that in this era of modern technology and fast changing economic environment the students need updated knowledge regarding new career opportunity and cannot afford to adopt herd mentality of opting for medical or engineering courses. He said that the new economy and global environment has opened new vistas of opportunities for students in which students can opt according to their talent and choice. Dr. Cheema said that each counselling units would be fully equipped with advanced modern technology besides a fully qualified counsellor and resource person who has been assigned the job of assessing strength and weakness of each student of provide career guidance according to the strength and aptitude.
Giving directions to explore the possibility of 24X7 career guidance helpline, Dr. Cheema said that it was imperative to provide counselling during stressful period of students keeping his anonymity especially during examination and result days.He said that in order to boost and optimize the work of guidance and counselling in the state of Punjab, number of innovative steps has been taken. The meeting was attended by Dr. Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Chairperson, Punjab School Education Board, Mr. Pardeep Agarwal, DGSE, Mr. Gurdeep Singh, Special Secretary, Mr. Balbir Singh Dhol, DPI (Secondary), Mr. Harbans Singh Sandhu, DPI (Elementry), Mr. Sukhdev Singh Kahlon, Director, SCERT, Mrs. Shruti Shukla, State Coordinator Cum Deputy Director Guidance Bureau and all officials of guidance bureau of Punjab.
Elaborating this Mrs. Shruti Shukla said that one cluster guidance resource person has been appointed for 10 to 13 schools in the entire state of Punjab. The prime duty of designated cluster guidance resource person would be to ensure that all the students studying in class 9th to 12th are given proper guidance for career progression. She said that interactive website will not only have elaborate details about the resources available in the state but will also provide a platform to the students regarding any kind of query pertaining to career courses and employment.In the end Dr. Cheema expressed his satisfaction over the new steps being taken to strengthen the project of guidance and counselling in the state of Punjab. He further stated that the day is not far when Punjab will take a lead in the field of skill development and guidance and counselling very shortly.