School career counselling in senior secondary schools is especially important in countries where young people face high unemployment, limited access to information, with few formal pathways from school to work. For many students, choices about subjects, further education, or livelihoods are made with very little guidance and are often based on assumptions, peer pressure, or a narrow set of well-known professions. Effective career counselling helps students understand the full range of opportunities available to them, including vocational training, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and emerging sectors, not only traditional academic careers.
Career counsellors also play a crucial role in helping students align their interests, abilities, and realities of the local labour market. In countries where resources are scarce, making an uninformed choice can have long-term consequences for both individuals and families. Early guidance reduces dropout rates, increases motivation to complete school, and supports smoother transitions into productive livelihoods.
Beyond individual benefits, career counselling contributes to national development. When young people make better-informed decisions, skills are better matched to labour market needs, entrepreneurship becomes more intentional, and human capital is used more efficiently. In a country with a very young population, structured career guidance in senior secondary school is not a luxury - it is a strategic investment in inclusive growth, social stability, and long-term economic resilience.