Implementation Issues in a Pastoral Care and Career Guidance Program

Abstract

Anglo-Chinese School founded in 1886, was selected by the Ministry of Education in 1988 to be one of the 17 pilot schools in Singapore to evolve and implement its own Pastoral Care and Career Guidance (PCCG) system, incorporating both structure and program. A horizontal PCCG structure was formulated and a whole school approach was adopted. The school believes that young people in our society need to be better educated, trained for adult life and provided with a range of opportunities, information and guidance to enable them to make sound, considered decisions upon leaving school. Detailed lesson plans on PCCG topics covering five key areas — self awareness, personal skills, interpersonal relationships, health and hygiene and career guidance were written and used during formal classroom time. Additional out-of-school programs called co-curricular activities reinforced the formal contact time. This article explores issues associated with rationale, implementation, organisation, program, integration of PCCG, resources, staff training and the manner in which PCCG successfully supports the total school.