Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji
Aiming to redefine students’ future, nearly 600 teachers across Goa will serve as ‘career ambassadors’ under Career Jagor, an initiative designed to bring structured career guidance into every classroom in the state.
The programme, being implemented through the Goa State Council for Educational Research and Training (GSCERT), aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“Career counselling is an integral part of NEP 2020. One entire component in the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) emphasises career counselling under the NEP 2020,” said GSCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar.
She said the initiative is among Goa’s first organised statewide efforts to help school and higher secondary students navigate a rapidly changing professional landscape. “The initiative is a grassroots strategy that transforms teachers into career ambassadors,” she said.
The initiative was launched last month, following which the educators selected as career ambassadors underwent training led by a career guidance expert.
Chandrakant Shinde, State Coordinator for Career Counselling at GSCERT, said the sessions focused on modern counselling approaches, emerging career sectors, and techniques to guide students towards paths aligned with their personal aspirations rather than only traditional choices. He said over 250 career options were introduced to students, compared with nearly 40 conventional career paths that are generally discussed.
“Unlike occasional seminars, this model creates a permanent institutional mechanism within schools, ensuring that students receive continuous mentorship and guidance throughout the academic year,” Shinde said.
“We have received a very positive feedback from teachers as well as students. Students from Class X and higher secondary sections reported that the sessions introduced them to multiple opportunities beyond the conventional fields of medicine and engineering,” Shinde said, adding that teachers said that the initiative provides them with the structured tools necessary to guide their students.
A senior higher secondary teacher said the intervention is timely, especially as technological advancements and automation continue to reshape industry requirements.
