Colegiul Tehnic“Marcel Guguianu” is in Zorleni, a village about 8 km from Bârlad, Vaslui County in NE Romania, economically disadvantaged area with high percentage of unemployment.
It’s one of the poorest counties in the country, on second place at unemployment rate(10, 99 % ). Many inhabitants of Zorleni commune are farmers, practicing subsistence agriculture. Poverty drove over 14 % of our students’ parents to leave for work abroad, leaving them in the care of relatives or even alone. Most of our students’families are disadvantaged, proof being 41 % benefit from a governmental program“Money for High School”meant to help such students continue school. They come also from different environments:mono parental families, orphanages, placement centres, Roma families/are in maternal assistants’care. School has 530 students(aged 15-20), 379 adults in courses with reduced frequency & 51 teachers. Studies:agriculture, horticulture, mechanics, transports, economy, commerce. This college a training center for adults working in this rural community with no NGOs/other organizations of adult education. We supply training for adults who abandoned school and for qualification(commerce, mechanic).
65 % of adult students are unemployed. School is engaged in career counselling, but general topics are addressed. There isn’t enough time for development of career plans customized to each youngster. Thus, in many cases, students graduate clueless about their future.
A questionnaire, applied to students over 18years, 6 months before graduating high school, found 56 % don’t know what to do after it. They aren’t decided whether to continue their studies/get a job & in what field. Some students want a career in a certain field not knowing what it involves, or if they have the necessary skills & competencies. There are also students who want to start their own business, but don’t have entrepreneurial skills. This is a popular option among Romanian youth(48 % )
But, ours is among countries with highest EU levels of poverty & social exclusion among young people. Youth unemployment reaches23 % . Lack of jobs determined a “brain drain and the country is losing its most valuable assets, educated youth who would be the essential resource for rebuilding economy. Project’s counselling & career guidance will contribute to faster employment, prevent & reduce unemployment, encourage mobility, lifelong learning & good mental health as result of doing what they love.
