A significant number of 18-year-old Cameroonians lack clear career plans and make the wrong choices, leading to increased youth unemployment, the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has noted.
In a press release signed by its president, James Kobila, the CHRC highlighted that many young people in this age group are confused about their career paths, resulting in dropouts and failures that negatively impact both families and the nation.
The commission attributed this issue to the strong influence of parents on their children’s career choices.
“The Cameroon Human Rights Commission deeply regrets to observe that some members of the educational community, especially parents, do not respect children’s rights concerning educational and professional guidance,” the statement said.
“Parents often impose their ambitions on children, preventing them from thriving in careers for which they have a natural talent.”
The CHRC emphasized that effective educational guidance is essential for equitable education.
It urged parents to respect their children’s rights as outlined in Observation No. 12 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child during its 51st session in Geneva in June 2009.
This observation states that, “the child holds rights that have an influence on her or his life, and not only rights derived from her or his vulnerability (protection) or dependency on adults.”
The commission noted that there is often a mismatch between training and employment, both in terms of quality and quantity, due to poor or nonexistent educational guidance.
This mismatch contributes significantly to the rising youth unemployment rate in Cameroon.
“The unemployment rate in Cameroon is rising steadily, reaching 6.1 percent in 2021, up from 3.84 percent the previous year and the underemployment rate among young people will be 65 percent in 2021, according to the latest edition of the Sustainable Development Indicators published by the National Institute of Statistics,” the CHRC stated.
The CHRC reminded parents that a child’s educational guidance and counselling are the joint responsibility of the child, the parents, and school guidance professionals.
“School guidance and counselling provided by professionals such as guidance counsellors aims to provide children with all the information and tools they need to choose wisely,” it said, adding that, “The guidance and counselling of a child or learner is a process that takes place throughout their education, including higher education, and that such guidance and counselling is provided through psycho-technical tests that enable the counsellor to identify the child or learner’s talents and aptitudes.”
However, the commission expressed concern that most parents and many public and private higher education institutions do not prioritize the role of guidance professionals in children’s educational development.
This neglect often results in students completing their education without acquiring the skills and attitudes necessary for professional success and societal contribution.
To address these issues, the CHRC encouraged parents to engage in constructive dialogue with their children and school guidance counsellors.
Such dialogue can help children express their career aspirations, build self-confidence, and make informed decisions about their future.
The commission also urged parents to support their children in gaining work experience in fields of interest, allowing them to better understand and refine their career plans.
The CHRC recommended that the government raise awareness among parents and educational institutions about the importance of guidance professionals.
Additionally, it called on university rectors to ensure that pre-enrollment for the academic year includes an orientation session led by guidance and counselling professional.
©Mimi Mefo Info – Career choices
